Jan. 12, 2008
Box Score | 
OMAHA, NE - The RedHawks won their 20th game of the season Friday night, defeating the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks by a 6-3 score. Miami has now won 20 or more games in five of its last six seasons.
Junior forward Justin Mercier potted his 17th goal of the season, a power-play tally, which proved to be the game-winning goal for the Red and White. Mercier now has four game-winners, tying him with five other skaters, for fourth in the nation in game-winning goals.
Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff played strong in the RedHawks' net, stopping 33 of the 36 shots UNO put on goal, earning Zatkoff his 16th victory of the season. The 36 shots were the most Zatkoff has faced this season.
The RedHawks drew first blood almost 13 minutes into the first period, when Ryan Jones slammed home a rebound that found its way behind Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Jerad Kaufmann. Junior defenseman Michael Findorff and freshman forward Pat Cannone assisted on Jones' 18th tally of the year.
Sophomore forward Gary Steffes extended the RedHawks' lead to 2-0, when he wristed a shot from the offensive zone blue line through a screen in front of the Mavericks' net and past Kaufmann. The goal was Steffes' sixth score of the season.
Senior Mick Lawrence pulled the Mavericks one goal closer during a 5-on-3 man-advantage, throwing a puck from behind the goal line off of Jeff Zatkoff and into the Miami net.
Toward the end of the period, Lawrence tied the affair up with his second power play goal of the night, picking up a loose puck in front of the Miami net, and putting it behind Zatkoff. Lawrence is now fourth in the CCHA in goals scored with 15.
Just 41 seconds after the Lawrence score, senior defenseman Charley Fetzer untied the contest with a goal coming off of an offensive zone faceoff. Freshman Tommy Wingels won the draw back to the blue line, and Fetzer guided a wrist shot past the UNO netminder. The goal was Fetzer's second goal of the season.
The Mavericks' knotted the game back up, 3-3, when freshman Matt Ambroz's momentum carried the puck into Miami's net after he had been pushed into Jeff Zatkoff. The goal was reviewed, but referee, Keith Sergott, determined there was no goaltender interference on the play.
With only five minutes remaining in the game, junior forward Justin Mercier netted the go-ahead goal for Miami, his 17th tally of the year. Mercier ranks third in the conference for goals scored.
Just over a minute later, alternate captain Brian Kaufman was able to slide his third goal in three games into the UNO net, sending many of the Mavericks' fans towards the exits. The goal was assisted by freshman Carter Camper, extending his point streak to seven games.
With Jerad Kaufmann sitting on Nebraska-Omaha's bench, Camper put the game away, throwing a puck from center ice into the yawning UNO net. Camper leads all freshmen scorers with 25 points.
Miami faces off with the Mavericks again Saturday night prior to heading back to Oxford. The puck drop is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.
NOTES:
Friday night's game marked only the second time this season that the RedHawks allowed 30 or more shots in a game. Both times have come at the hands of the Mavericks.
Of the 12 shorthanded goals the RedHawks have allowed this season, three have come while the team was down by two men.
Miami is 14-0 when the team scores first and 13-0 when it scores four or more goals in one game.
Freshman forward Carter Camper has run his point streak to seven games, scoring four goals and assisting on seven others during that time.
Senior captain Ryan Jones had his seventh multiple point (one goal, one assist) game of the year Friday night.
GAME'S THREE STARS: No. 3 - Jeff Zatkoff No. 2 - Mick Lawrence No. 1 - Justin Mercier
ATTENDANCE: 7306
