Feb. 18, 2006
Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the first time this season the Miami University RedHawks (21-7-4, 18-6-2 CCHA) found themselves on the losing end of a second consecutive game as the Michigan State Spartans (19-10-7, 13-7-6 CCHA) skated to a 3-1 win on Saturday night.
Sophomore Ryan Jones (Chatham, Ontario) beat Michigan State goaltender Jeff Lerg with a wrist shot at the 4:25 mark of the first period to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Nino Musitelli (Macomb, Mich.) intercepted a pass just inside the Miami blueline and found Jones streaking down the right-wing boards. The left-handed shooting Jones beat his man around the corner before rifling a shot from the right dot that beat Lerg high on the glove side.
Michigan State responded at 14:33 of the first when Chris Snavely capitalized on a five-on-three man-advantage. After penalties to both Brad Robbins (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Matt Christie (Ajax, Ontario), Snavely took a pass from Tyler Howells in the high slot and one-timed the puck past a screened Jeff Zatkoff (Chesterfield, Mich.).
A quick wrist shot by Tyler Howells made it 2-1 for Michigan State with 1:48 remaining in the second period. Howells took a pass from behind the Miami net and beat Zatkoff from the top of the right circle.
With just 14 seconds left in the period, Howells and Drew Miller combined to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead when Miller tipped Howells' pass past Zatkoff's left pad.
Despite allowing three goals, Zatkoff was outstanding in net as me made 23 saves and thwarted several prime scoring chances for MSU. Bryan Lerg turned away 20 shots for the Spartans.
Miami returns home on Feb. 25 for its final home game of the regular season when they host the Bowling Green State University Falcons. The game will mark the final regular season game in the history of Goggin Ice Arena as it will be replaced by the state-of-the-art Goggin Ice Center at the beginning of next season.
Miami has already clinched the CCHA regular-season championship, a first-round bye and home-ice advantage in the second round of the CCHA playoffs. The RedHawks will host a yet-to-be-determined opponent in a best-of-three series on March 10-12
NOTES: Miami is 15-2-1 when scoring first ... SO Nino Musitelli extended his point streak to a career-best three games ... Miami last victory when trailing after two periods versus Michigan State on Jan. 30, 2004 ... SO Nathan Davis had his eight-game point streak snapped ... SO Ryan Jones' goal was his 16th of the season.
