Oct. 15, 2011

Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - For the first time all year, the No. 4/5 Miami hockey team went to overtime but came up on the short end as Colgate scored the game-winner with 2:03 remaining in the extra session to earn a 3-2 victory and gain a series split with the RedHawks Saturday night at Starr Rink. Miami (2-2-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) won Friday night's contest, 4-3, as the all-time series with Colgate (3-1-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) is again even at 2-2.

For the second straight night, the Raiders went 2-for-9 on the power play, including the game-winning goal, as the RedHawks were whistled for nine penalties. Miami, however, was 0-for-5 with a man advantage. Senior goalie Connor Knapp played stellar in net, making 37 saves - the third most of his career and most since a career-high 55 in the 2010 NCAA Regional final - despite suffering the loss, as Colgate outshot Miami 40-22. The 40 shots were the most the `Hawks have given up since that regional final, as well.

As it has done every game this year, Miami struck first at 8:10 of the opening period. Colgate turned the puck over in the corner of its own zone and sophomore Max Cook dug it out and centered to senior Patrick Tiesling, who was camped in front of the net. Tiesling then went to his backhand and lifted it top shelf to give Miami the 1-0 lead.

The second period saw several penalties, including five in a row on the RedHawks, with four coming in less than three and a half minutes. The first two whistles of the stanza were on Colgate, as the RedHawks had a 5-on-3 power play early in the period for a little under a minute but Miami hit the crossbar and was unable to cash in.

The Miami penalty parade then started, resulting in three 5-on-3 power plays for Colgate over a stretch of 3:20. Knapp stood on his head, making a slew of highlight-reel saves to kill the first two 5-on-3 power plays, but the Raiders were finally able to even the contest on the third two-man advantage. Chris Wagner sent a cross-ice pass across the crease to Robbie Bourdon, who was sitting on the far post for the putaway at 13:07 of the middle period.

In the third period, the `Hawks regained the lead on junior Reilly Smith's fourth goal of the series and the year. A bad pass by Colgate in the Miami end led to a breakout for Miami as senior Alden Hirschfeld pushed it ahead to Smith, who skated into the Raider zone, pulled up and fired a sharp wrister from the left circle with 9:17 left in the game to put Miami ahead, 2-1. Hirschfeld's assist extended his point streak to a career-best seven games.

The lead would be short-lived however, as 1:20 later Colgate again pulled even. The Raiders took advantage of a turnover in Miami's end as Austin Smith was able to beat Knapp off assists from Wagner and Joe Wilson. Colgate was penalized for too many men on the ice with only 1:36 remaining in regulation, but the RedHawks could not find the back of the net as the game went to overtime.

After the Raiders killed the remainder of the penalty, freshman Blake Coleman was called for roughing just 57 ticks into the extra stanza. As the power play was expiring, Corbi McPherson blasted a shot from the blue line between the circles that Austin Mayer, who was screening Knapp, redirected for the game-winning goal, giving the Raiders the 3-2 win.

Miami tied all six overtime contests last year and suffered its first overtime loss since March 13, 2010, which came at the hands of Ohio State in the second round of the CCHA Playoffs.

The RedHawks remain on the road next weekend when they open CCHA play at Ferris State Oct. 21-22. Puck drop both nights is set for 7:05 p.m.