Feb. 23, 2008
Box Score
OXFORD, OHIO - Junior Brian Kaufman and freshman Andy Miele scored two goals and one assist apiece, and Jeff Zatkoff continued his solid play in net to lead Miami University's ice hockey team past Western Michigan, 8-1, at Steve Cady Arena.
Miami recorded its school-record-tying 27th victory of the year tonight, and could establish a new mark next Tuesday at Ohio State. MU's 1992-93 squad tallied 27 wins to initially set the record (27-9-5), and the '96-97 Miami team matched that total four years later (27-12-1).
The RedHawks jumped off to a 5-0 lead in the opening period, scoring two goals in the first five-and-a-half minutes, and three more within a 2:37 span late in the stanza.
Andy Miele got the RedHawk party started early, firing a slapshot from the point past WMU netminder Jerry Kuhn for Miami's first score at 4:06. Nathan Davis and Ray Eichenlaub assisted on Miele's fourth goal of the season.
The second RedHawk goal was scored just 1:28 later by freshman Pat Cannone, his fourth of the year. Justin Mercier and Nino Musitelli were credited with assists.
In a scramble around the net, senior Nino Musitelli made it 3-0 RedHawks. His eighth goal of 2007-08 was assisted by Brian Kaufman and Cannone.
Just 14 seconds later, Ryan Jones, the nation's leading goal scorer, poked one home in a scramble to make it 4-0 Miami. Tommy Wingels and Alec Martinez helped Jones notch his 29th goal of the year.
A minute and 23 seconds later, Nathan Davis scored MU's fifth goal, with Miele and Palmer recording the RedHawk assists.
The RedHawks continued their offensive assault in the second period, expanding their lead to 7-0 on Miele's second goal of the game (Davis and Palmer assists), and Brian Kaufman's 10th goal of the year (assists to Wingels and Brad Robbins).
Western Michigan broke its 99-minute scoring drought against Miami late in the second period when Jordan Collins scored a power-play goal, cutting the RedHawk lead to 7-1.
The only goal of the third period was scored by Kaufman of Miami. No. 15's second goal of the game was assisted by Wingels and Jones. Wingels had three assists on the evening for the RedHawks.
Miami's Zatkoff allowed only one goal in 120 minutes of play against Western Michigan. He lowered his nation-leading goals-against average to 1.63.
Miami travels to Columbus next Tuesday night (Feb. 26) to take on intrastate rival Ohio State, then hosts the Buckeyes next Friday night in Oxford to wrap up the regular season.
"We know we need to bring this same kind of energy with us next week," said Kaufman. "Every time we play them it's a big game. We'll make sure we're ready to go."
GAME NOTES:
Miami's eight goals vs. Western Michigan tonight were the most scored by the RedHawks in a CCHA game since a 9-2 victory at Northern Michigan on Nov. 2, 2007.
The combination of Miami's win over Western Michigan and No. 2 Michigan State's 5-2 loss at Michigan put the RedHawks back into sole possession of second place in CCHA play. Michigan now leads Miami by three points and Michigan State by five points with just two regular-season games to play. The RedHawks face Ohio State in a home-and-home series next Tuesday and Friday. Michigan has a home-and-home battle against Ferris State next Friday and Saturday. And MSU's season-ending series is a home-and-home pair versus Bowling Green.
Miami continues to lead the nation in scoring defense, yielding only 62 goals in 34 games (1.82 goals-against average). The RedHawks also lead collegiate hockey in scoring offense, notching 4.29 goals per game.
¬Over the last three seasons, Miami hockey has a cumulative overall record of 77-29-9 (.709), the best winning percentage among all CCHA teams. Over that same period, only Michigan has won more overall games (78) than Miami.
Miami improved its CCHA record to 19-6-1. Only two teams in RedHawk history have recorded 20 or more league victories in a single season. Miami's 1992-93 CCHA champs won 22 league games (22-3-5) and the 2005-06 CCHA titlists earned 20 wins (20-6-2).
POST-GAME QUOTES:
MIAMI'S Brian Kaufman: "We were really concentrated on coming out strong."
MIAMI'S NATE DAVIS: "Last night we got back to executing more. We're right where we want to be."
WMU COACH JIM CULHANE: "I wanted to make sure we started the game well. Obviously, we didn't."
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