Miami University
3-5-2, 0-3-0
Omaha
5-3-1, 2-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Miami | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Mavericks Rally Past RedHawks in Third Period
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
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OXFORD, Ohio - Through 40 minutes, the Miami hockey team appeared to be back on track against Omaha, but the Mavericks scored four times in the third period to send the RedHawks to a 6-4 loss on Friday night.
The setback drops Miami to 3-5-2 and 0-3 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference action.
Miami took four of the first five shots on goal after stemming some early possession by Omaha (5-3-1, 2-1 NCHC) in its zone. However, a too many men on the ice penalty proved costly for the RedHawks as the dangerous Mavericks' power play struck at the 7:21 mark when Mason Morelli redirected a point shot by Ian Brady into the net to go ahead 1-0.
The Red and White took another penalty shortly thereafter, but managed to kill that one off to leave them within a goal midway through the opening stanza. Miami got to go on a power play of its own late in the frame and Josh Melnick netted his first goal of the season with a pinpoint wrist shot that zoomed past Evan Weninger's glove and into the top corner of the net. Anthony Louis earned the primary assist by feeding him in the slot for the tally after some good puck handling got him a controlled zone entry. Jared Brandt picked up the second assist on the goal that left the score tied at 1-1 with both teams firing nine shots in the first 20 minutes.
Things perked up in the second period as Miami outshot Omaha by a 10-7 margin in the frame. The RedHawks broke the tie 6:23 into the period when an errant clearing attempt was corralled by Scott Dornbrock, who eventually flung a shot to the net that was tipped in front by Conor Lemirande for his first to give them their first lead of the night at 2-1.
After being held scoreless for the first time in six games on Saturday, Louis took charge midway through the frame as Dornbrock found him in a soft spot in the high slot, where he wired a wrist shot past Weninger for his eighth goal of the season at the 9:51 mark. Gordie Green also picked up an assist on Louis' 100th career point. The senior forward wasn't done there as on the ensuing draw, Louis was sprung ahead by Melnick and he worked his way to a sharp angle and surprised the Omaha goalie with a rising backhand shot that went in for his second of the night.
Omaha took a late penalty in the frame to give Miami an opportunity to balloon its lead further, but an offensive zone turnover ended up springing the Mavericks for a 4-on-2 rush, where Joel Messner wristed home a shot for a shorthanded goal that pulled them within 4-2 at the end of the period.
That shorthanded goal reenergized the Mavericks as they pulled within a goal just 1:23 in as Jake Randolph redirected a shot in to make it a 4-3 game. After each team took a penalty within 10 seconds of each other, Omaha ended up getting some fortunate timing as Steven Spinner stepped out of the box just in time to intercept an outlet pass that let him go down the right wing and hit the far post and in to tie the score at 4-4 with 14:23 left.
With 8:05 left in regulation, Luc Snuggerud ripped the puck diagonally to the stick of David Pope atop the crease at the right side, where he redirected the puck in to put the Mavericks back in front. Miami tried to push on in the offensive zone over the final eight minutes and change and got the puck in the offensive zone with a sixth attacker on the ice in the final minute, but a turnover sprung Omaha the other way for an empty net goal by Morelli to seal the game for the Mavericks.
Omaha ended up outshooting Miami by a 29-28 margin while going 2-for-5 on the power play. The RedHawks converted on one of their four man advantages. Ryan Larkin made his 10th-straight start in goal and stopped 16 shots while Chase Munroe made his NCAA debut and clocked 13:54 while making seven stops. Weninger turned away 24 Miami attempts at the other end. Louis matched his career high with three points (2g, 1a) while Melnick (1g, 1a) and Dornbrock (2a) chipped in two points apiece.
These same teams wrap up their series on Saturday night with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m.
