Northern Michigan Tops RedHawks in Season Opener, 3-0

Friday, October 2

Marquette, Mich.

7:07 p.m.

Miami University

0-1-0

Northern Michigan

1-0-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Miami (OH)	0	0	0	0
Northern Mich.	0	2	1	3

Northern Michigan Tops RedHawks in Season Opener, 3-0

10/2/2026 9:58:00 PM | Hockey

Box Score

MARQUETTE, Mich.– (RV) Miami dropped its season opener at Northern Michigan by a score of 3-0 Friday night. The host Wildcats capitalized on special teams to move to 1-0-0 on the year behind 30 saves from Oliver Auyeung-Ashton. The RedHawks fall to 0-1-0 with the result.

HOW IT HAPPENED

2:29 2nd (Northern Michigan 1-0) | After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, NMU grabbed the game's first goal with a shorthanded tally early in the second period. Mathew Ward set up a trailing Coster Dunn on a 2-on-1 break for the finish to make it 1-0. Ian Engel started the play in the Wildcats' zone and initially poked the puck forward, earning the second assist.
18:00 2nd (Northern Michigan 2-0) | The hosts doubled their lead on a power-play goal with two minutes left in the second period. Joe Schiller fed Darik Olson for a one-timer from the top of the right circle, with Branden Piku also collecting an assist on the play.
18:33 3rd (Northern Michigan 3-0) | Engel put the game out of reach in the final minutes of the contest with an unassisted empty-net goal on the power play from his own zone.

NOTES

Eight players made their Miami debuts, including six freshmen playing in their first college hockey game.
Kocha Delic was credited with a game-high six shots on goal, matching his career high.
10 different forwards took at least one faceoff for the Red and White.
Miami goaltender Matteo Drobac made 16 saves.

UP NEXT:
The RedHawks and Wildcats will face off again on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Marquette. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m.