OXFORD, Ohio - A youthful and energetic Miami University hockey team pulled away from Western Ontario for a 6-2 victory in its lone exhibition game of the 2012-13 season Sunday afternoon at Steve Cady Arena.

The 9th-ranked RedHawks controlled the pace of the game from the early going, as first-period scores from sophomore Austin Czarnik and freshman Kevin Morris helped put the hosts up 2-1.

"We have an explosive team similar to teams we've had in the past," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "When we get some momentum, we can put some good shifts together."

Freshman forward Riley Barber opened the scoring, as he found Czarnik in front of the net on a wraparound pass from the goal line 4:28 into the first period. Sophomore forward Jimmy Mullin also assisted on the play.

Less than two minutes later, the Mustangs knocked in a loose puck past freshman goaltender Jay Williams to even the score, but the RedHawks quickly regained the lead.

Junior Bryon Paulazzo corralled a missed shot by freshman defender Taylor Richart and connected with Morris, who swooped in front of the net for the score at the 8:30 mark.

Miami outshot Western Ontario 16-4 in the first period and 49-14 for the game.

The Mustangs evened the score early in the second period on the power play on another rebound put-back in front of the net, but it was off to the races for the RedHawks after that.

Miami scored three goals in two minutes, starting at the 11:34 mark, as Paulazzo was the open man on a 3-on-1 advantage. Freshman forward Alex Gacek passed to Morris, who found Paulazzo streaking through the left circle.

Mullin put the RedHawks up two just 39 seconds later, scoring on a fancy between-the-legs wrist shot on a breakaway opportunity. Barber, who assisted on the play, found the sophomore racing up the right boards.

Czarnik tacked on another goal, his second of the game, on the power play at the 13:33 mark. The sophomore scored on a quick wrist shot from the left circle. Barber and sophomore forward Alex Wideman both picked up assists on the play, giving Barber three helpers for the game.

"The freshmen really clicked in the second," Czarnik said. "They were just a little nervous in the beginning, which they are going to be. They ended up working hard. (Kevin) Morris had a great game and so did Barber, so it was a team effort. They really showed up today."

Miami finished 2-for-7 on the power play, while Western Ontario was 1-for-5.

Sophomore Blake Coleman rounded out the scoring in the third period, taking advantage of a 5-minute major and 10-minute misconduct penalty for hitting from behind. The forward took a slick feed from Wideman and found the back of the net from the right circle.

The game had its fair share of penalties as the contest became more chippy and physical during the third period. Miami finished with eight penalties for 16 minutes and Western Ontario had 12 for 51 minutes, including two 10-minute misconducts.

Miami's Williams finished with six saves in just more than 30 minutes of action, before giving way to classmate Ryan McKay, who had six saves with no goals allowed.

"I like our goaltending," Blasi said. "They've done a real good job of getting themselves ready to play and their preparation over the course of the summer and the last five weeks has been pretty good."

The RedHawks open the regular season Friday, Oct. 12 against Colgate at Steve Cady Arena. Puck drop is 7:35 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--