Oct. 7, 2011

Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio - For the first time since 2001, No. 1/2 Miami lost its home opener as the RedHawks hockey team fell to Bemidji State, 5-3, Friday night at Steve Cady Arena in the 2011-12 season opener for both squads. Miami also dropped its first season opener in six years despite two RedHawks scoring their first career goals.

Miami (0-1-0) held a 2-1 advantage heading into the third period, but Bemidji State (1-0-0) pressured the RedHawks all game, outshooting them by a 24-20 margin and used a four-goal third period to take the win.

"We lost our composure tonight and they took it to us for three periods and deserved to win," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "You have to compete at a high level, and it seems like we've forgotten how to compete at a high level for 60 minutes. When you play a good team like Bemidji, they can take it to you."

Miami jumped out to an early lead as junior Curtis McKenzie scored a power play goal just 2:10 into the first period. Fellow junior Steve Mason set up the play with a pass from the right side in front of the crease and McKenzie put it away for the 1-0 advantage.

The Beavers evened the score at 1:44 of the second period on the first of Aaron McLeod's two goals, but Miami quickly answered back to retake the lead a minute and a half later when freshman Jimmy Mullin redirected a shot in front of the net from senior Chris Wideman past Bemidji State goaltender Dan Bakala, putting Miami on top, 2-1.

The Beavers battled back to tie the game at 2-2 with a goal by Jake Areshenko from McLeod and Brad Hunt at 5:06 of the third period when the puck hit the post and trickled past RedHawk senior goalie Cody Reichard.

Bemidji State kept the pressure on and grabbed a 3-2 lead on McLeod's second goal of the game at 8:30 of the third period, using a wrap-around from behind the cage.

Miami would rally with its second power play goal of the game when freshman Alex Wideman deflected a blue-line shot from senior Cameron Schilling to even the score at 3-3 and send Cady Arena into a frenzy with less than five minutes remaining.

Reichard made several stellar saves down the stretch, including multiple odd-man rushes and two BSU breakaways, to keep the `Hawks all square late in the contest. However, after a flurry of activity in front of Reichard, forward Darcy Findlay picked up a loose puck and send a point-blank shot past the Miami netminder top-shelf to give the Beavers a 4-3 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

Miami would be forced to pull Reichard and the Beavers added a short-handed empty net goal by Sam Rendle to seal the game at 19:41 of the final frame, giving BSU the 5-3 win. The RedHawks did kill both Bemidji State power plays while going 2-for-5 with a man advantage themselves in the game. Reichard finished with 19 saves while Bakala had 17 for BSU.

"We have to do a better job of taking care of the puck. We couldn't generate any sustained pressure and when we did, we didn't make strong plays to finish," Blasi said. "They played great team defense and their goalie made some great saves. "

Prior to the game, the RedHawks unveiled their 2011 CCHA Tournament championship banner for winning the Mason Cup last year.

Miami faces Bemidji State again at Steve Cady Arena Saturday at 7:05 p.m. when the RedHawks look to earn a series split.

--MURedHawks.com--