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OXFORD, Ohio - Entering the third period with a 2-0 deficit for the second time in three games, the Miami hockey team flipped the tables and topped Colorado College 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night.

Josh Melnick's goal 1:34 into overtime capped the RedHawks' (4-8-5, 1-4-3-1 National Collegiate Hockey) first third period comeback win of the season.

The RedHawks pressured the Tigers (3-12-1, 1-5-1-0 NCHC) early on, but a miscue at the offensive blue line created a breakaway for Alex Berardinelli, where he scored up high to put them up 1-0. Miami was held to only five shots on goal in the opening frame as it had to kill a power play midway through the period and was put shorthanded again with 1:11 to go until intermission, where the score remained 1-0.

The Red and White killed off the remainder of the carry over to start the second. MU nearly evened the score about six minutes in when Karch Bachman picked up a loose puck in the middle, spun around and flung a shot that beat Alex Leclerc low, but went off the post. Officials took a closer look, but ultimately determined the puck did not cross the line.

Miami did have four power plays to work with in the middle frame that created some extended offensive zone possession, but a series of blocked shots by Colorado College defenders kept it from getting the equalizer. Midway through the period, CC took advantage of the long change and had two players behind everyone for a 2-on-0 that actually ended up with a shot fired wide. In the scramble to recover, Mason Bergh snuck into a soft spot coming off the bench and scored to make it 2-0 at the 10:25 mark.

A major penalty derailed a Miami power play with 7:10 left in the period, but MU's penalty kill was up to the task and kept the game within two shots after 40 minutes of play.

In the third period, a deft zone entry created a 2-on-1 for Miami with a good opportunity to pull closer as the puck found Gordie Green's stick in the middle. The freshman went forehand to backhand and had Leclerc prone, but the CC goaltender stuck with it and got his pad on the attempt to keep it ahead 2-0.

Miami's dogged effort in the third period finally began to bear fruit in the middle of the frame as Karch Bachman chipped the puck in the zone off the half wall to himself and drove wide before dropping a pass to Willie Knierim in the slot. The freshman forward proceeded to bury the puck from in close for his second goal of the year to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 9:58 left.

That goal sent the RedHawks into a frenzy the remainder of the game. Persistent zone pressure created a delayed penalty and Miami held possession long enough for Kiefer Sherwood to join the play as a sixth skater. The extra man paid off as after Melnick redirected Anthony Louis' point shot off the pad of Leclerc, Sherwood buried the rebound to tie the score at 2-2 with 6:14 remaining in regulation.

The Red and White were dangerously close to taking the lead on the man advantage, but Leclerc made a couple stops to keep the game tied. Shortly after the penalty expired, Bryce Van Horn nearly put the Tigers back on top when he split the defense for a breakaway, but Chase Munroe got a small piece of the shot to redirect it off the post and out as the game went to overtime for the second night in a row.

An offensive zone faceoff ended up creating the winning goal a minute and a half in. The draw was tied up, but Carson Meyer dug the puck out from some feet and eventually got it to Melnick at a sharp angle. The sophomore flung a shot that eluded Leclerc and went in for the sophomore's second of the year to snap the team's 10-game winless streak.

The RedHawks outshot the Tigers 20-5 in the third period and overtime to end up on top 33-20 overall on the night. Neither team converted on the power play with Miami going 0-for-5 and killing off all four Colorado College man advantages, including a major penalty late in the second period. Melnick and Sherwood chipped in a goal and an assist apiece for multi-point games. Munroe picked up his first collegiate win with 18 saves on 20 shots while Leclerc stopped 30 shots at the other end.

Miami is idle until Dec. 31 when it plays at Ohio State. Opening faceoff for the New Year's Eve matinee is at 4 p.m.