OXFORD, Ohio — The Miami University hockey team started its Thanksgiving weekend series with a 5-3 loss to No. 16/16 Michigan State on Friday night at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena. The RedHawks (5-8-2, 1-6-1 NCHC) were able to score in all three periods, but couldn't pull off a comeback after the Spartans (10-4-1, 5-2-1 Big Ten) tallied three times in the first.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 2:32 1st (Michigan State 1-0) | The Spartans got on the board early, scoring in the game's first three minutes. The RedHawks ran into pressure while trying to clear the puck from their zone, with Jesse Tucker knocking it loose for Tanner Kelly to send it near the net. Tucker came back up to tap in the goal, floating it just out of reach of Ludvig Persson to earn the 1-0 lead.
• 11:14 1st (Miami 1-1) | The RedHawks evened the score midway through the first period on a Jack Olmstead breakaway goal. Olmstead took the puck after it was knocked out of a corner tussle, blazing down the ice and shooting into the net for the 1-1 equalizer.
• 12:55 1st (Michigan State 2-1) | Michigan State took back the lead just over a minute later. Jeremy Davidson brought the puck out of Spartan territory, passing up to Nicolas Müller at Miami's blue line. Müller sent a pass all the way around the boards, where Cole Krygier picked it up and immediately flung it into the goal to put the Spartans up 2-1.
• 16:40 1st (Michigan State 3-1) | The Spartans extended their lead later in the opening period. Miroslav Mucha took the puck up the wall for Michigan State, bringing it into the RedHawks' zone with a pass up to Müller. A quick dish across to Davidson created an opening for a goal to make it 3-1.
• 10:58 2nd (Michigan State 4-1) | Midway through the second period, the Spartans found the back of the net again. Fighting for puck control against the wall, Nash Nienhuis hit it loose and over to Davidson, who flicked it up and over onto the stick of Mucha. A one-on-one dash toward Miami's goal followed, with Mucha's shot just over the shoulder of Persson making the score 4-1.
• 15:52 2nd (Miami 4-2) | The RedHawks responded, converting a power play opportunity to trim the lead to 4-2. Looking for an opening behind Miami's net, Hampus Rydqvist headed down the ice, laying the puck off to PJ Fletcher. Matthew Barbolini took a pass from Fletcher and weaved through multiple Michigan State defenders, finishing the play to pull the RedHawks within two.
• 0:23 3rd (Michigan State 5-2) | The Spartans scored on the opening shift of the third period to produce their fifth goal. Mucha pushed the puck down the ice, running up against the wall in Miami's zone and dropping back to Davidson, who registered his second goal of the evening.
• 10:12 3rd (Miami 5-3) | John Waldron picked up the final goal of the night, stealing the puck in the middle of Miami's zone and taking it all the way to the net, juking out Michigan State defenders and securing an unassisted score.

 
GAME NOTES:

• Barbolini has now recorded a point in six straight appearances; he leads the RedHawks with 14 points on the year (6-8-14).
• Rydqvist's assist was the 20th point of his Miami career (9-11-20).
• Waldron lit the lamp for the second consecutive game, earning Third Star honors.
• The RedHawks killed off all five Michigan State power plays, including a five-minute major; Miami was 1-4 with the man advantage.
• Axel Kumlin had a career-high seven shots on goal for the Red and White.
• Persson made 30 saves in net for Miami.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami and Michigan State will face off again Saturday night, Nov. 26 at 5:05 p.m. in Oxford.