RedHawks Storm Back to Beat Western Michigan, 3-1

Saturday, January 2

Kalamazoo, MI

7:00 p.m.

Miami University

3-7-1, 3-7-1-0-1-0

Western Michigan

2-7-2, 2-7-2-0-0-0

Miami

Western Michigan

Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann

RedHawks Storm Back to Beat Western Michigan, 3-1

1/2/2021 9:38:00 PM | Hockey

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Miami RedHawks stormed back from an early 1-0 deficit, and scored three unanswered to defeat Western Michigan, 3-1, in National Collegiate Hockey Conference action on Saturday night at Lawson Arena. Derek Daschke's team-high third goal at 3:11 in the second tied the game for the RedHawks, and senior captain Phil Knies scored later that frame for the eventual game-winner against the Broncos.

Miami picked up their first win in Kalamazoo since December of 2017 and improved to 3-7-1 on the season, while the Broncos drop to 2-7-2. Daschke's tally came on the power play, giving Miami their third power-play goal on the season. Freshman goaltender Ludvig Persson, the conference Goaltender of the Month for December, finished the night with 27 saves for his third victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

11:23 1st (WMU 1-0) | Miami got called for the first penalty of the game, and the Broncos found themselves with a chance to get on the board first. Drew Worroad had the puck at the right circle and was able to find an open Ethen Frank across from him at the left circle. Frank shot a one-timer blast to the net, and it got past Persson as Western got the lead early.
3:11 2nd (Miami 1-1) | After the Broncos scored a power-play goal in the first, the RedHawks decided to get on the board with one of their own. Matt Barry found an open Daschke behind him at the blue line and passed the puck over. Daschke then shot a laser past Austin Cain in the top right corner of the net. Daschke's goal, Miami's first of 2021, was his third on the season. Casey Gilling was credited with a secondary assist on the play.
10:51 2nd (Miami 2-1) | After getting the puck from the defensive zone, Monte Graham skated the puck to the other side of the ice and gave a soft pass behind him to Ben Lown. Lown passed it to Knies, who was directly to his left, and Knies got it in the back of the net to give the RedHawks a lead going into the second intermission.
19:25 3rd (Miami 3-1) | After the Broncos pulled their goaltender for an attempt to tie the game, Hampus Rydqvist attempted to get the puck out of Western Michigan's zone and instead got the puck in the back of the net to seal a victory for the RedHawks.

GAME NOTES:

Miami was outshot by Western Michigan on the night, by a 28-20 margin. Gilling and Rydqvist led the RedHawks in individual shots on goal, with three each.
Joe Cassetti made his RedHawks debut and went 9-for-14 on face-offs, with one shot on goal.
Miami led in blocked shots, 12-7.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The RedHawks continue the series with the Broncos tomorrow. Puck drop for the game on January 3 is set for 5:00 p.m. at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo.

The 2020-21 Miami ice hockey season is proudly sponsored by Kroger and Cintas.