OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University hockey team opened conference play with a defeat at the hands of the No. 3 Denver Pioneers, falling 4-0 at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena on Friday. Despite an impressive 33 saves from Ludvig Persson, the RedHawks (4-2-1, 0-1-0 NCHC) gave up goals across all three periods to the Pioneers (5-2-0, 1-0-0 NCHC), including a hat trick from Carter Mazur.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 1st 6:25 (Denver 1-0) | Denver opened up scoring early in the first period. Backed up into his own zone, Casey Dornbach sent the puck ahead for the Pioneers, connecting with Massimo Rizzo, who brought it up the ice and into position. Mazur came up from behind to take the shot off the top post, sealing the 1-0 lead.
• 2nd 2:53 (Denver 2-0) | The Pioneers took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to double the advantage. Rizzo received a pass from Dornbach and took a quick attempt at the goal. The puck bounced straight up off Mazur's stick before he nudged it in, extending Denver's lead to 2-0.
• 3rd 16:05 (Denver 3-0) | Mazur finished his hat trick for the Pioneers in the third period. While the RedHawks attempted to clear the puck around the back of their net, Rizzo got a touch on the puck that sent it to Dornbach. He slid it across to Mazur for the finish, putting the visitors on top 3-0.
• 3rd 18:17 (Denver 4-0) | In the final minutes, Tristan Broz grabbed the puck for Denver at center ice after a dropped Miami pass, bringing it back up and in for the unassisted goal to close out the game.

 
GAME NOTES:

• Miami claimed the most faceoff wins across the game, claiming 33 to Denver's 27.
• RedHawks skaters blocked 13 shots, while the Pioneers blocked 9.
• Thomas Daskas and John Sladic made their season debuts for Miami.
• Persson made his 24th consecutive start in net for the RedHawks.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami and Denver face off again Saturday, Oct. 28 at Cady Arena. Puck drop is set for 5:05 p.m. in Oxford.