Miami University
Lake Superior State
No. 11 RedHawks Thump Lakers, 8-1
2/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Feb. 25, 2011
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Eight RedHawks recorded multiple points, including two goals each from seniors Carter Camper and Justin Vaive and sophomore Reilly Smith, as the No. 11 Miami hockey team cruised to an 8-1 win over Lake Superior State Friday night at Taffy Abel Arena. With the victory, the RedHawks (18-9-6, 15-7-5-2 CCHA) extended their unbeaten streak to a season-long eight games while winning their fourth straight over the Lakers (10-14-9, 8-11-8-5 CCHA) in Sault Ste. Marie.
Smith also tallied an assist to tie a career high with three points while it was his team-best fifth multi-goal game of the year. Senior Andy Miele and junior Trent Vogelhuber also recorded a trio of points as Vogelhuber set a career high while Miele continues to lead the nation with 59 points and extended his point streak to a career-long 12 games. Juniors Chris Wideman and Alden Hirschfeld each handed out a pair of helpers with Hirschfeld's tying a career high while senior Pat Cannone added a goal and an assist.
The eight goals were Miami's second-most on the year (nine Oct. 23) while the RedHawks fired 45 shots, also the second-most on the season. Junior goalie Cody Reichard earned his 12th win of the year as he stopped 20 of 21 LSSU shots while Laker goalie Kevin Kapalka took the loss, making 30 saves before being pulled after two periods.
The RedHawks wasted little time jumping in front as Camper's first goal came just 3:17 into the contest. Hirschfeld, in his own zone, whistled a pass through traffic to a streaking Camper across the red line, as the co-captain then skated in alone, deked to his left and snuck it inside the post on the forehand past Kapalka.
Miami made it 2-0 with 8:07 left in the opening frame, as Smith notched his first goal of the game. Vogelhuber fed Miele as Miami carried it into the attacking zone where Miele flicked a back-handed pass to an open Smith, who snuck the puck by Kapalka five-hole.
On its first power play of the game, Miami struck again as Vaive, camped in front of the crease, deflected a blast from junior Matt Tomassoni at the point to make it 3-0 `Hawks 5:14 into the middle period. The RedHawks then increased their lead to 4-0 with 4:04 left in the second period as freshman Max Cook collected the puck in between the circles and dished it out to Wideman just inside the blue line. Wideman fired a laser through traffic that Vaive redirected off the post and into the net for his second goal of the stanza. Cook's assist was the first of his career while Vaive tied a career high with his second two-goal game of the campaign.
Miami again scored on the power play in the third period, this time with a 5-on-3 advantage, as Camper notched his second tally of the night for his 17th goal. The Lakers tried to clear the puck out of the zone behind their own net, but Cannone gathered it before it crossed the blue line. He fed Camper in the circle to replacement goalie Niels-Erik Ravn's right where Camper hesitated and beat Ravn over his left shoulder to make it 5-0 just 2:27 into the final frame.
Smith lit the lamp for the second time midway through the third period for his CCHA-leading 23rd goal of the season. After some nifty passing from Miele and Vogelhuber, Miele slipped the puck to Smith, who buried the rubber from between the circles to make it 6-0. Lake Superior broke up Reichard's shutout bid with 3:35 remaining in the game, however, when Fred Cassiani snuck one past Miami's netminder.
The RedHawks closed the game strongly however, scoring twice in a 30-second span in the final two minutes. Cannone put the `Hawks up 7-1 as Hirschfeld stole the puck in the corner, circled back toward net and fed Cannone, who blasted a shot that hit Ravn's glove and fell into the net. Miele then capped the 8-1 victory with exactly a minute to play, scoring his 18th goal of the year on assists from Smith and Vogelhuber.
Miami finished 2-for-4 on the power play while successfully killing all three Laker power plays, as the `Hawks have now killed 25 straight penalties.
The RedHawks wrap up the regular season Saturday night when they go for a sweep of Lake Superior State at 7:05 p.m. at Taffy Abel Arena.
--MURedHawks.com--
