Feb. 20, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
By Drew Davis
OXFORD, Ohio - No. 1 Miami's eight-game winning streak and school-record 11-game unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday night with a 4-2 loss to Nebraska-Omaha at Steve Cady Arena. The loss is only the RedHawks' second in CCHA play this season and first since Oct. 24, 2009, a span of 23 league games without a loss.
UNO (17-13-6, 13-12-3-2 CCHA) got on the board first at 3:55 of the first period when Nick Fanto made a steal along the left boards at the Miami blue line, skated ahead and beat Miami goaltender Connor Knapp with a quick wrist shot, the first shot of the game for either team. The 1-0 deficit marked the first time that the RedHawks had trailed since allowing the game's first goal against Alaska on Jan. 22..
The RedHawks had two power plays in the first period and created multiple scoring opportunities, taking four shots with the one-man advantage but couldn't solve UNO goaltender Jeremie Dupont.
Over the first 19 minutes, the RedHawks fired eight shots on goal against Dupont without success, but with just a minute to play in the opening frame, Curtis McKenzie made a steal in front of the Omaha bench and pushed it ahead to Wingels. The junior sent a crossing pass to Camper, who finished off the one-timer from the left circle for the tying goal at 19:03.
Wingels gave Miami the lead for the first time at 7:59 of the second when he took a pass from Andy Miele right in front of the net. McKenzie started the play with a backhand shot that sent Dupont diving for the save, allowing the open net.
Miami's lead was short-lived as the Mavericks retied the game at 2-2 on a 3-on-2 break at 11:41 of the second period.
At 3:56 of the third period, the Maverick's retook the lead, the latest the RedHawks have trailed in a game since their last loss, Jan. 10 against Robert Morris.
Miami fell behind 4-2 less than two minutes later -- at 5:28 -- when the Mavericks fired a shot on goal that Knapp turned away, but couldn't cover up, allowing Matt Ambroz to tip the rebound into the net.
"(UNO) deserved to win tonight," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "They played real hard and they did a nice job of dictating the game. I don't think we had it for the most part. They took it to us and the credit goes to them. Dupont made some big saves in the second.
"It has been a while since we had this feeling and I am sure the guys will come back Monday ready to work.
"The credit goes to (UNO)," Wingels said. "They were more physical tonight and they took us out of our game. I don't think we were building on shifts. They deserved this tonight."
After the game, the RedHawks were presented with the CCHA Regular Season Championship Trophy. Miami clinched the 2009-10 championship its victory over Bowling Green, Feb. 12.
"It's good to be honored in front of the home fans," Wingels said of the presentation. "They're the best fans in the country and with their reaction, it felt great."
The RedHawks return to the ice Feb. 26-27 in a home-and-home series against Ohio State. The teams face-off Friday at 8:05 p.m. at Steve Cady Arena before wrapping up the series in Columbus on Saturday, also at 8:05 p.m. Friday night's game will be televised on CBS College Sports.
