Jan. 13, 2007

| Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A Western Michigan power-play goal late in the third period proved to be the game-winner on Saturday night as the Miami University RedHawks (17-8-1, 12-4-1 CCHA) dropped a 5-3 decision to the Broncos (8-12-1, 7-9-1 CCHA) at Lawson Ice Arena. The loss snapped Miami's five-game winning streak over WMU that dated back to Jan. 2006. The RedHawks had a chance to tie the game with a power-play chance in the final minute of the game but an empty-net goal sealed the victory for the Broncos.

Just 11 seconds into their first power play of the game, Miami jumped out to a 1-0 lead on junior Nathan Davis' 16th goal of the season at 2:13 of the first period. After a draw in the WMU zone, sophomore Alec Martinez stymied a clearing effort by the Broncos and chipped the puck to junior Ryan Jones in the slot. Jones picked up the puck and made a move toward the net before leaving the puck for Davis, who tucked the puck just inside the right post and past Daniel Bellissimo.

Mark Letesto erased the Miami lead at the 8:10 mark of the second period when he capitalized on an odd-man rush and beat Jeff Zatkoff with a wrist shot from near the bottom of the left circle. Zatkoff got a piece of Letesto's shot, but its momentum carried it into the net to make the score 1-1.

Senior Marty Guerin restored the Miami lead at 14:02 of the second with a power-play goal that extended his point streak to a career-best nine games. After taking a pass from sophomore Raymond Eichenlaub, freshman Jarod Palmer carried the puck into the WMU zone and fired a shot on goal from the top of the right circle. The rebound found its way right onto Guerin's stick at the bottom of the right circle and he made no mistake in lighting the lamp with his ninth goal of the season.

Western Michigan responded quickly and made it 2-2 at the 15:34 mark on Jeff LoVecchio's 10th goal of the season. After a faceoff in the Miami zone, LoVecchio threw a shot on goal from the right corner that deflected off Zatkoff's skate and trickled over the goal line.

The Broncos took their first lead of the game at 3-2 on LoVecchio's second goal of the game as he banged at a loose puck in the crease and pushed it behind Zatkoff at 4:01 of the third.

With Miami's third power-play goal of the game, sophomore Brian Kaufman drew the RedHawks even with the Broncos when he took a pass from Ryan Jones and slipped a wrist shot past Bellissimo at the 6:25 mark. From behind the net, Jones found Kaufman in the slot, where he showed great patience and held the puck just long enough for Bellissimo to drop to the ice, before finding the top right corner.

Capitalizing on a 4-on-3 advantage, that was the result of a five-minute major penalty to Kevin Roeder and a minor penalty to Charley Fetzer, WMU took a 4-3 lead as Jeff Pierce tucked a puck underneath Zatkoff at the 15:11 mark of the third.

With a Bronco in the penalty box, Miami pulled the goalie in favor of an extra attacker, but Letesto picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and closed the scoring at 5-3 with an empty-net tally with just 2.9 seconds remaining.

NOTES: Guerin's nine-game point streak is the longest of any RedHawk this season ... Martinez' snapped a six-game scoring drought with an assist on Davis' goal in the first.