Jan. 7, 2011
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite outshooting Ohio State 40-24, the No. 7/8 Miami hockey team was unable to find the back of the net while the Buckeyes capitalized on a power play in the closing seconds of the second period to earn a 1-0 victory over the RedHawks Friday night at Value City Arena. Miami (11-7-3, 8-5-2-1 CCHA) was shut out for the first time all year and first time since a scoreless draw against OSU Feb. 27, 2010 while the Buckeyes (11-8-1, 6-6-1-1 CCHA) won their fifth straight game.
With the loss, the 'Hawks have now dropped back-to-back games for the first time since being swept by Robert Morris on Jan. 8-10 of last year, as Miami fell, 4-3, to St. Cloud State Dec. 30 in the championship of the Florida College Classic. In both losses, the Red and White outshot its opponent by a double-digit margin.
Ohio State junior goalie Cal Heeter made 40 stops to record the shutout while Miami junior goalie Cody Reichard finished with 23 saves in defeat. The 'Hawks had several opportunities with a man advantage but failed to capitalize, going 0-for-6 on the power play while OSU was 1-for-4, which served as the game's lone goal.
The teams played a scoreless first period despite Miami having the better of the opportunities and outshooting OSU, 13-5. Both teams went 0-for-2 with a man advantage, but the 'Hawks got five shots on those power plays while the Buckeyes managed just one. Miami was held without a first-period goal for just the sixth time all year and first time since Nov. 26 at Western Michigan.
The RedHawks continued to pile on the scoring chances in the second period but several attempts went inches wide and Heeter made 11 saves to keep Miami off the board. With just 8.9 ticks remaining in the second period, the Buckeyes broke the deadlock with a power play goal, which turned out to be the game-winner. Reichard made the initial stop on John Albert's shot but the rebound popped out to an open Sergio Somma, who put the puck in the back of the net for his team-leading 12th goal of the year.
Miami looked to draw even early in the third frame, as it had several pokes at a loose puck in front of the net but no one was able to get a stick on it or make solid contact. The RedHawks again looked poised to make the game all square with a 5-on-3 power play midway through the final stanza, having a two-man advantage for nearly a minute, but the Buckeyes were able to deny Miami the game-tying goal.
With exactly a minute to play, Reichard was pulled in favor of an extra attacker, but the RedHawks' only two shots sailed wide, as Ohio State held on for the 1-0 win. Miami finished with a 16-7 edge in shots on goal in the final frame, but it was to no avail.
The RedHawks look to earn a series split with the Buckeyes Saturday night when the teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. at Value City Arena.
--MURedHawks.com--
