KALAMAZOO, Mich. — No. 15/14 Western Michigan got off to a fast start with two first-period shorthanded goals and went on to defeat the Miami University hockey team 6-1 Saturday night in the regular-season finale.
 
Thomas Daskas scored the only goal for Miami (7-24-3, 1-21-2). Joe Cassetti led the Broncos (20-13-1, 11-13-0 NCHC) with three points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 4:21 1st (WMU 1-0) | WMU opened the scoring with an unassisted shorthanded goal in the first period. Chad Hillebrand poked the puck free and won a race to retrieve it at the far end of the rink before finishing the play for a 1-0 lead.
• 11:44 1st (WMU 2-0) | Hillebrand collected his second shorthanded tally of the opening period, winning the puck in his defensive zone to spark a breakaway and double the WMU lead. Carter Berger and Daniel Hilsendager were awarded assists.
• 3:57 2nd (Miami 2-1) | Daskas got Miami on the board after Max Dukovac pushed the puck forward and sparked a 2-on-2 rush. Daskas was in the right place to snatch the puck and knock home a shot to cut the Broncos' lead in half.
• 9:14 2nd (WMU 3-1) | Western Michigan extended its advantage with an even-strength goal in the second period, scoring just seconds after a power play expired. Carter Berger was open in the middle of the zone after passes from Zak Galambos and Matteo Costantini and fired a shot past Bruno Bruveris. Miami challenged the play for a potential offsides, but the goal stood after video review.
• 11:14 2nd (WMU 4-1) | Two minutes later, Cassetti lit the lamp for the home team to make it 4-1. Owen Michaels initially stole the puck and skated it behind the Miami net before connecting with Cassetti for a quick finish.
• 17:19 2nd (WMU 5-1) | WMU capitalized on a fast-developing 4-on-2 to break the game open. Cassetti took a pass from Cam Knuble and dropped the puck off to a trailing Zak Galambos, who did the rest.
• 17:39 2nd (WMU 6-1) | 20 seconds later, the Broncos struck again. A rapid-fire passing sequence around the RedHawks' cage led to a Cassetti goal, with Tim Washe picking up the assist.

 
GAME NOTES:

• Daskas earned the 25th point of his college hockey career.
• Jack Clement played in his 164th career game to move into sole possession of third place on Miami's all-time list.
• Dukovac now has 20 assists in his RedHawk career.
• Bruveris made 19 saves in two periods of work, while Logan Neaton stopped all six shots he faced in the third period.
• Axel Kumlin matched his season high with five shots on goal.

 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The RedHawks begin the NCHC quarterfinals on Friday, March 15 at top-seeded North Dakota. Game 1 of the best-of-three series is set for 8:07 p.m. ET.