March 12, 2010

Final Stats
Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Ohio - After trailing at the end of the first period for just the eighth time this season, No. 2/1 Miami erupted with four second-period goals to come from behind and beat Ohio State 6-2 Friday night at Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center in the opening game of the CCHA quarterfinal series.

Junior Andy Miele scored twice and added two assists -- his third career four-point game -- and fellow junior Carter Camper scored the tying goal just 17 seconds into the second period, then added the eventual game-winner to lead the RedHawks.

Miele opened the scoring at 11:32 of the first period with a top shelf one-timer to give Miami the 1-0 lead. Senior forward Jarod Palmer moved the puck into the zone and passed to Reilly Smith behind the net. Smith passed it back to Miele, who finished it off, beating Ohio State goaltender Dustin Carlson stick-side.

The Buckeyes quickly responded, tying the score at 1-1 at 12:18 of the first with a goal by Hunter Bishop. The junior winger added his second goal of the game at 18:28 to give Ohio State the 2-1 lead.

The period ended 2-1 in favor of the Buckeyes, putting Miami behind after the first stanza for the first time since Jan. 22 at Alaska. That game ended in a 1-1 tie, but the RedHawks had different plans for Friday night's game.

At 0:17 of the second period Camper finished off a one-timer with a slap shot that beat Carlson to tie the score at 2-2. Junior forward Tommy Wingels set up the play with a crossing pass from the left side to the right circle, right on Camper's stick. Alden Hirschfeld earned the second assist.

"After Carter scored that I was screaming so hard I almost passed out," Miele said. "Scoring in the first minute of a period is huge. It is such a big momentum builder."

With an Ohio State skater in the penalty box, Camper added the eventual game-winner at 6:08 of the second frame with a power play goal to make it 3-2 in favor of the RedHawks. Camper took a pass from Pat Cannone at the point and skated to his left before letting loose a wrist shot through traffic that found the back of the net. Wingels picked up the second assist on the play.

Miami extended the lead to 4-2 with a goal by Palmer at 14:04. Miele earned the assist by setting him up for a wide-open one-timer. Miele's second goal of the game came at 16:28 and chased Carlson from goal. Cal Heeter replaced the junior for the remainder of the game. Miele added his second assist on the final goal of the game, a tally by Alden Hirschfeld.

The two teams faceoff again in game two of the best-of-three series on Saturday. A Miami win will send the RedHawks to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for the CCHA semifinals while an OSU win will push the series to a decisive game three.

"We're not looking back at the past or ahead. Our focus is playing in the moment and right now the moment is Ohio State," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "They're going to give it everything they've got tomorrow. We need to come to play and execute."

Game two starts at 7:05 on Saturday night at Steve Cady Arena. Up-to-the-minute details of the game's action will be available in a live blog beginning at 6:30 p.m. at http://www.muredhawks.com/postseason/IHblog031310.html.