OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University hockey team fell short on Saturday night by a score of 4-2 in the tail end of back-to-back contests against No. 6/7 St. Cloud State. A couple of consecutive fast goals in the third period allowed the Huskies to climb back and take the lead in the final minutes. Much like the previous night's game, the third period significantly impacted the outcome at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena.

Miami struck first with a power-play goal from Matthew Barbolini in the first period giving them the early lead. The RedHawks maintained that lead for two periods, but the Huskies found the right time to capitalize in the final frame, turning the tide in their favor to get the victory. Senior goaltender Grant Valentine made his first start of the 2020-21 season, stopping 28 shots to keep the RedHawks in the game. With the loss, Miami falls to 5-15-2 on the season, while Saint Cloud moves to 13-8-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 11:12 1st (Miami 1-0) | Miami was the first team to strike, after a power-play goal by Matthew Barbolini gave them a 1-0 early advantage. Derek Daschke swatted the puck over to Matt Barry, who found an open Barbolini on the cross-crease pass that led to the RedHawks' first goal of the conference game.
• 11:39 1st (St. Cloud 1-1) | The RedHawks were in a board battle behind the net in their zone when the puck popped out to Easton Brodzinski, who was skating into the slot and put it up over the shoulder of Valentine. Assists on the play were given to Jami Krannila and Seamus Donohue.
• 19:53 1st (Miami 2-1) | In the waning seconds of the first period, the RedHawks were able to take the lead once again after a goal from Dylan Moulton, which made it a 2-1 game. Barry slid a pass to forward Jack Olmstead, who skated towards the blueline, leaving the puck for Moulton, who skated in and fired a shot on net that would trickle in for the goal. Moulton's goal, which was scored with just seven seconds left on the clock, is the first goal and point for his career as a RedHawk.
• 4:57 3rd (St. Cloud 2-2) | Brendan Bushy got the puck after a couple of quick passes along the left board from Will Hammer and Joe Molenaar. Bushy fired a one-timer from the point, finding the back of the net through some heavy traffic to tie the game at two. 
• 5:05 3rd (St. Cloud 3-2) | St. Cloud took the lead just seconds later, after a goal from Kevin Fitzgerald to make it 3-2. Fitzgerald came into the zone and then sent a give-and-go pass to Chase Brand, who sent it back over to Fitzgerald, who sent it home for the goal.
• 18:38 3rd (St. Cloud 4-2) | Kevin Fitzgerald scored his second of the night for an empty-net goal that was shot from the red line. The goal was unassisted. 

GAME NOTES:

• Miami was outshot on the night by a margin of 32-23. Dylan Moulton led the RedHawks individually in shots on goal, with four.
• The RedHawks scored the only power-play goal of the night out of a total of 10 penalties combined for both teams.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The RedHawks will enjoy a week off on a bye next weekend before heading on the road for one last time in the regular season. Miami will take on the Broncos of Western Michigan on Friday, February 26, with the puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in Kalamazoo.