Miami University
Lake Superior State
No. 1 Miami Skates to 2-2 Tie with Lakers
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Oct. 30, 2010
By Drew Davis
OXFORD, Ohio - Lake Superior State scored with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation, forcing the top-ranked Miami hockey team to settle for a 2-2 overtime tie Saturday night at Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center. The RedHawks (5-1-2, 3-0-1-1 CCHA) won the shootout, 3-2, however, to pick up an extra point in the CCHA standings and remain in first place in the conference while the Lakers (2-4-2, 0-3-1-0) receive one point in the standings for the tie.
Miami opened the scoring for the second straight night after a 6-2 win Friday, as senior captain Carter Camper took a pass from junior defenseman Chris Wideman between the left circle and the crease with his back to the goal. He made a series of moves, drawing the LSSU defense to him, then found sophomore Reilly Smith making a run through the zone on the right side for a one-timer in the open right side of the net to give Miami the 1-0 lead 13:51 into the contest.
Lake Superior State answered back at 18:26 of the first to even the score at 1-1 off the stick of Chad Nehring. He had his initial shot blocked by a Miami defender but caught a break as the puck bounced right back to his stick and he was able to send a wrist shot past Miami junior goalie Connor Knapp.
The 'Hawks recaptured the lead just 24 ticks into the second period when Smith found Camper for his nation-leading ninth goal of the season. Senior Andy Miele sent a pass to the Lake Superior State blue line where Smith picked up the puck just before a Laker defender could smack it away. Smith moved the puck ahead with the defender draped over him and hit Camper with a pass just outside of the crease on the left side where Camper finished off the one-timer for the 2-1 Miami advantage.
The teams skated step-for-step with each other through the remainder of the second period and into the third period when the Lakers pulled their goaltender with less than a minute to play in regulation still trailing by one.
Miami stopped Lake Superior State's initial attack, but with 12 seconds left to play junior Patrick Tiesling was whistled for an interference call, putting the Lakers on the power play with the extra attacker for essentially a 6-on-4 advantage. With just seven seconds left in regulation, LSSU connected for the equalizer to send the game into overtime at 2-2 as Matt Cowie beat Knapp with a blast off the faceoff as Rick Schofield won the draw.
"Every game we play we get everybody's best game and I think we do have a target on our back with all the success this program's had," Knapp said. "It can make a team's season beating the team that's made the Frozen Four in back-to-back years and I'm sure Lake Superior State's leaving Oxford with a lot of confidence."
In the extra period the RedHawks went on the offensive, firing four shots on goal and hitting the pipe once, but couldn't find the back of the net to pull off the overtime win. The Lakers' only scoring opportunity in the final five-minute period came with two seconds to play, but Knapp came up with the save to preserve the tie.
Miami converted on its first two shootout attempts with successful tries by Smith and Camper, but Lake Superior State tied it at two apiece when their second and third shooters connected, extending the shootout to sudden death.
The RedHawks' fifth attempt by freshman Max Cook ended in a low, backhand shot that beat Laker goalie Kevine Kapalka five-hole and gave Miami the 3-2 advantage in the shootout.
"Coach just patted me on the back and said 'Hey, you're going next.' I was watching the goalie and seeing what he was doing before, so I kind of had the idea of coming in with speed and bringing it to my backhand," Cook said. "Basically it was bringing it to my back hand and either going up top or through the five-hole and it worked out and went through the five-hole."
Knapp then stepped up for the RedHawks on the Lakers' chance to tie by using a stick-save to stop Kyle Jean and give Miami the extra point.
Next up for the RedHawks is a trip to Big Rapids, Mich. to face CCHA foe Ferris State Nov. 5-6.
--MURedHawks.com--
