OXFORD, Ohio — John Waldron produced his first career hat trick, but the Miami University hockey team fell 7-3 to No. 4/4 St. Cloud State Friday night at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena.
 
Waldron scored all three of his goals in the second period for the RedHawks (5-10-2, 1-7-1 NCHC). Dylan Anhorn and Jami Krannila tallied two goals apiece for the Huskies (14-3-0, 7-2-0 NCHC).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 0:49 1st (SCSU 1-0) | The Huskies took a lead in the first minute of the game on a power-play opportunity. Kyler Kupka passed away from Miami's net to Adam Ingram, who sent the puck across to Anhorn. A shot from deep secured the goal for St. Cloud State to make it 1-0.
• 2:40 1st (SCSU 2-0) | Just a few minutes later and back in the RedHawks' zone, Zach Okabe passed from behind the net out to Anhorn, who skated the puck toward the goal. Anhorn sent a pass over to Krannila, who finished the play to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
• 7:54 1st (SCSU 3-0) | In a 4-on-4 situation, Veeti Miettinen received the puck at Miami's blue line, passing across to Anhorn who then dropped it back to Krannila for a shot toward the net. The deflected puck fell to Anhorn, who knocked it in to put SCSU up 3-0.
• 0:26 2nd (Miami 3-1) | The RedHawks put up their first goal on the power play in the opening seconds of the middle period. Positioned next to the Huskies' goal, Matthew Barbolini, Red Savage and Waldron executed a series of pinpoint passes around the net, with Waldron's shot getting Miami on the board.
• 3:39 2nd (SCSU 4-1) | St. Cloud State responded shortly after, as Okabe took the puck out of SCSU's zone, passing across to Ondrej Trejbal who gave it ahead to Miettinen. His goal gave the Huskies a 4-1 lead.
• 7:21 2nd (Miami 4-2) | Taking the puck after a faceoff win, Zane Demsey brought it up to Barbolini at center ice, who left it behind to be picked up by Waldron. Barbolini received the puck again on a pass against the boards, relaying it back to Waldron for the scoring one-timer.
• 19:47 2nd (Miami 4-3) | Waldron earned his third goal of the game just before the end of the period, picking up the puck and bringing it into the Huskies' zone. After getting caught up in SCSU defenders, Waldron regained the puck and immediately ripped an unassisted shot to pull Miami within 4-3.
• 1:29 3rd (SCSU 5-3) | SCSU responded, stretching its lead to 5-3 just 11 seconds into a power play opportunity at the start of the third period. Ingram took the puck off the boards and sent it to Grant Cruikshank, whose deflected shot was received by Kupka. A quick follow-up put the Huskies back up by two goals.
• 8:17 3rd (SCSU 6-3) | The Huskies went on top 6-3 as Miettinen took the puck near the boards in Miami's zone, taking a shot that got caught up in traffic in front of the net. Krannila poked it out and in for his second goal of the night.
• 15:38 3rd (SCSU 7-3) | St. Cloud concluded the scoring with a power play goal. Jack Peart took the puck at the RedHawks' blue line and passed it up to Krannila, who hesitated for a moment before shooting toward Okabe. The puck chipped off Okabe's stick and into the net to account for the 7-3 final.

 
GAME NOTES:

• Waldron's hat trick was the first by a RedHawk since January 23, 2016 (Conor Lemirande).
• Krannila, Waldron, and Anhorn were named the Three Stars of the Game.
• Barbolini recorded the 10th multi-point game of his career for the Red and White.
• Ludvig Persson made 22 saves in net for Miami.

 
UP NEXT:
The RedHawks and Huskies conclude their two-game series Saturday, Dec. 10. Puck drop at Cady Arena is set for 5:05 p.m.