DULUTH, Minn. — Ludvig Persson made a season-high 50 saves and Joe Cassetti scored two goals as the Miami University hockey team defeated (RV) Minnesota Duluth 4-1 Saturday night. John Sladic and Red Savage also lit the lamp for the RedHawks (8-20-4, 3-16-3 NCHC), who earned their second road win all-time over the Bulldogs (14-17-1, 9-13-0 NCHC).
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• 11:09 1st (Miami 1-0) | The RedHawks started the scoring midway through the first period. Blake Mesenburg knocked the puck down along the boards to win it away from the Bulldogs and over to Jack Olmstead, who fed a pass across the crease to Sladic. Sladic got a quick shot off and kept the rebound alive, knocking it home to put Miami on top.
• 15:55 1st (UMD 1-1) | Minnesota Duluth answered back later in the period to tie the game. Luke Mylymok fed the puck to Derek Daschke at the left point. Daschke's long blast hit teammate Isaac Howard in front, and Howard was able to recover the puck and deposit it into the net.
• 17:03 1st (Miami 2-1) | Miami cashed in on the power play to reclaim the lead just over a minute later. Axel Kumlin retrieved the puck from the Miami zone and connected with Matthew Barbolini ahead at the blue line. Barbolini used his strength along the left boards to work free, eventually splitting a pair of Bulldogs and setting up Red Savage in close for an easy finish past UMD goaltender Matthew Thiessen.
• 4:20 2nd (Miami 3-1) | Cassetti doubled the Miami lead in the second period. Alex Murray won the puck at center ice up to Cassetti, who sent a pass to Ryan Savage at the blue line. The Bulldogs got a stick on it momentarily, but Cassetti snatched it back and beat Thiessen to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage and force a UMD goaltender change.
• 18:22 3rd (Miami 4-1) | Cassetti put the game away with an empty-net tally from along the boards deep in his own zone to stretch Miami's lead to 4-1.

 
NOTES

• Persson, Cassetti and Red Savage swept the Three Stars for Miami, with Persson earning the First Star.
• Persson, the only active NCHC goalie to make 50 saves in a game, has now accomplished the feat three times in his career.
• Sladic's goal was his first since Feb. 12, 2021 and gave the senior his first point of the season.
• Mesenburg produced the first assist of his career.
• Kumlin's assist was his 10th point of the season.
• Red Savage scored his fifth goal of the season and first since Nov. 11.
• After his first-period assist, Barbolini has a team-high 13 assists and 23 points this year.
• Four RedHawks (Cassetti, Robby Drazner, Alex Murray and Ryan Savage) matched career-highs with +2 ratings.

 
UP NEXT:
Miami concludes the regular season by hosting Western Michigan for a two-game series next weekend. Puck drop on Friday, March 3 is set for 7:05 p.m. at Steve "Coach" Cady Arena.