Jan. 31, 2009

Final Stats

OXFORD, Ohio -- Three Miami (16-8-4) seniors scored in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Bowling Green (9-16-3) on Saturday night in Steve Cady Arena.

Seniors Brian Kaufman (Shoreview, Minn.), Kevin Roeder (Glenview, Ill.) and Alexandre Lacombe (Orleans, Ont.) each tallied a goal on a night when their class earned its 99th win, the most of any class in Miami history. Roeder’s goal came after an injury during his first shift of the game and the seniors would rally and account for all three goals and four assists.

The first period ended scoreless despite chances on both ends of the ice with Miami outshooting Bowling Green 12-7. The RedHawks twice faced a two man disadvantage, but Connor Knapp (York, N.Y.) and the Red and White defense were able to kill off all four penalties. Knapp left the net, diving to the blue line to knock a puck away from a Bowling Green attacker, preventing a breakaway.

Bowling Green got on the board first at 9:21 of the second period with Brand Svendsen converting on a power play. Miami quickly answered on a power play of their own at 11:29 evening the score at one. The Falcons tried to clear after a flurry of shots, but Tommy Wingels (Wilmette, Ill.) corralled the puck and fired a shot on goal that was turned away by Falcons goalie Jimmy Spratt before Kaufman stuck it in the goal. Cameron Schilling (Carmel, Ind.) earned a secondary assist on the play.

At 18:57 in the second, Bowling Green retook the lead on another power-play goal by Josh Boyd to give the Falcons a 2-1 advantage at the second intermission. The RedHawks outshot the Falcons 20-9 in the frame.

For the 10th time this season, Miami entered the third period trailing, but unlike the previous nine times, the RedHawks pulled off the third period rally.

Miami tied the game at two when seniors Kaufman, Roeder and Bill Loupee (Bloomfield, Mich.) found themselves on a three-on-one breakaway crossing Bowling Green’s blue line. Kaufman and Loupee beat the lone defenseman with a series of well placed passes and ended with a cross-ice pass to Roeder. He fired a wrist shot from the right side that found the back of the net at 8:43 of the final period for his second goal of the season, and fifth of his career.

The RedHawks took the lead for the first time all game, when Lacombe buried a shot at 11:23 of the third period. He took a pass from Loupee, and skated down the right side of the ice before centering to Kaufman for a one-timer. Kaufman’s shot bounced off Spratt’s left pad before Lacombe hit the rebound in for the goal that proved to be the difference. It was the third of the season and ninth of his career for Lacombe.

Miami killed off a five minute penalty in the final 5:16 of the game after Will Weber (Gaylord, Mich.) was called for a five minute major and game disqualification. With 1:29 remaining, Bowling Green pulled its goalie, giving it six attackers to Miami’s four defenders, and still Miami was able to clear the puck repeatedly, preserving the victory.

The RedHawks are off next weekend before traveling to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan to play Lake Superior State.
 

Game Notes
Bowling Green at #10 Miami
Jan. 31, 2009 • Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio

• With the victory, this group of Miami seniors became the winningest class in program history. Saturday's win was the 99th in the four-year careers of Michael Findorff, Alexandre Lacombe, Brian Kaufman, Justin Mercier, Raymond Eichenlaub, Kevin Roeder and Bill Loupee.
• Miami rallied from a 2-1 deficit after two periods, the first time in 10 tries this year it has reversed a deficit in the final 20 minutes. The RedHawks entered the game 0- 8-1 when trailing through two periods.
• Miami also improved to 3-4-0 in one-goal games and, 2-8-2 when allowing the first goal and 6-0-1 when tied after the first period.
• Miami killed off a pair of Bowling Green 5-on-3 opportunities in the first 12 minutes. The RedHawks totaled 18 penalty minutes in the period and 43 for the game. That total shattered the previous season-high of 20 at Michigan State on Nov. 14.
• The teams were scoreless in the first period, the first time since the Army game on Jan. 3 that neither team found the net in the opening frame. It was just the third game all year that included a 0-0 first period.
• Bowling Green tallied the first goal of the game, converting a power play at 9:21 of the second period. It marked the first time in four games that Miami's opponent scored first.
• Miami tied the game at 1 at 11:29 of the second on Brian Kaufman's second goal in as many nights. The goal was his seventh of the season after assists from Tommy Wingels and Cameron Schilling. Kaufman added a pair of assists in the third period to finish with a season-high-tying three-points (also vs. Ohio State on Oct. 11).
• Kevin Roeder tied the game at 2-2 with just his second goal of the season. His only other tally came at Western Michigan on Dec. 6.
• The game-winner was scored by senior Alexandre Lacombe, his first in 10 games and third this season. He also tallied goals at Vermont and at Notre Dame. The game-winner is the second of his career and his second of the season.  
• Will Weber took a five-minute major penalty and game disqualification late in the third period. The latter penalty carries an automatic one-game suspension, forcing him out when the RedHawks travel to Lake Superior State on Feb. 13.
• Pat Cannone had his five-game point streak come on an end on Saturday. 
• First Star: Brian Kaufman (MIA); Second Star: Alexandre Lacombe (MIA); Third Star: Jimmy Spratt (BG)

Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch

Post-game quotes:

On tonight’s game:
“That was a tough one. I thought our guys battled really, really hard for sixty minutes, and to not get points out of that game, it’s just disappointing, because those guys in that room really deserve it.”

“Miami’s PK (penalty kill) is terrific and we were able to get to them for a couple during the game, but I think you saw the wear and tear of the hockey game near the end, we were cold for the last five minutes. We really needed a whistle earlier, we just couldn’t and because of that we were just drained. We didn’t have the energy to get the loose pucks and Miami just did a great job.”

On Jimmy Spratt:
Jimmy was tremendous. He came in and was on a really hot streak there, he just kind of picked up. He was tremendous tonight. He made some terrific saves when called upon. He was very good.

On special teams play:
“There were too many penalties in the game and that’s all I’ll say about it.”

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