Hockey Downed at Western Michigan, 5-2

Friday, February 26

Kalamazoo, MI

6:05 p.m.

Miami University

5-16-2, 5-16-2-0-1-0

Western Michigan

9-11-3, 9-11-3-1-0-1

Miami

Western Michigan

Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann

2/26/2021 8:38:00 PM | Hockey

Box Score Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich.— After a bye week to give the RedHawks a long break, Miami battled Western Michigan in its fifth meeting so far on the 2020-21 season. The Broncos scored three unanswered goals that put them on top, as the Miami University hockey team was defeated by the Broncos, 5-2, on Friday night.

The Broncos opened up the game's scoring with two in the first frame, but the RedHawks responded with two second-period goals from Jack Olmstead and Casey Gilling to tie it at two. Still, Western Michigan's offensive performance in the third was the difference-maker. With the win, the Broncos improve to 9-11-3 on the season, while the RedHawks fall to 5-16-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

12:12 1st (WMU 1-0) | The Broncos got the scoring started early. Aidan Fulp fed the puck to Josh Passolt from along the boards, and Passolt did a cross-ice pass over to Ronnie Attard. Attard sniped the puck in the back of the net from the left circle to make it a 1-0 game in the Broncos' favor.
19:49 1st (WMU 2-0) | Fulp added another assist to his scoresheet by getting the puck over to Attard. Attard directed the puck on the net, but Paul Washe got his stick on it in front to increase their lead to two in the closing seconds of the first frame.
3:00 2nd (Miami 2-1) | The RedHawks were the first ones on the board in the early minutes of the second period. Matt Barry won the face-off in Miami's offensive zone, Jack Olmstead found the back of the net after getting the puck from Barry. Olmstead's goal was the first goal of his career as a RedHawk to open Miami's scoring.
12:10 2nd (Miami 2-2) | Even though the RedHawks got called for a penalty, that didn't stop Miami's offensive production. Gilling got the puck from a turnover in open ice and had a breakaway to get the puck in the back of the net to tie the game at two.
16:16 2nd (WMU 3-2) | Western Michigan had the final say in the second frame, Cole Gallant tried to get the puck in past Persson, but Drew Worrad got the puck in from the rebound to keep the score in their favor going into the second intermission.
12:32 3rd (WMU 4-2) | Washe was behind the net and got the puck from off the boards, and Jason Polin got his stick on it in front to make it 4-2 on the power-play.
13:33 3rd (WMU 5-2) | Just seconds after their fourth goal, the Broncos got their fifth. Cedric Fielder got the puck from Brett Van Os after a face-off win, and he tried to shoot a wrister from the blue-line. Fielder's shot was saved, but Jamie Rome got the rebound on his stick and ripped it in.

GAME NOTES:

The Broncos outshot Miami on the night by a 41-25 tally. For the RedHawks, Bray Crowder, John Sladic, and Gilling led in individual shots on goal, with four each.
Ludvig Persson (24 saves) and Grant Valentine (12 saves) split time in net.
The RedHawks had the advantage in blocked shots with six.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The RedHawks will finish the regular season portion of the schedule with a home game against Western Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 28. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena and will be aired on CBS Sports Network.

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