March 13, 2010

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Final Stats

OXFORD, Ohio -- No. 2/1 Miami found itself in unfamiliar territory, down three goals in the second period, but forced overtime before falling 5-4 to Ohio State Saturday night at Steve Cady Arena. The Buckeye win forces a decisive game-three in the CCHA quarterfinal series Sunday night beginning at 7:05 p.m.

Junior Pat Cannone led the RedHawks, scoring at 18:24 of the second period to pull the RedHawks within 3-2 and adding the unassisted equalizer at 18:40 of the third period, making the score 4-4. He also contributed an assist on the RedHawks' first goal of the game.

Ohio State's Zac Dalpe opened the scoring at 2:21 of the first period with a power play goal. The Buckeyes added an even strength goal at 17:24 of the first off the stick of Patrick Schafer to push the lead to 2-0. Throughout the first period, Ohio State controlled the pace with stifling defense and limited Miami to just six shots in the stanza.

Hunter Bishop, who tallied two goals for the Buckeyes on Friday night, made it 3-0 in favor of Ohio State on a 3-on-2 break at 6:57 of the second period. The three-goal deficit was the largest the RedHawks faced all season.

Miami got on the scoreboard at 14:49 of the second period on a one-timer from Brandon Smith to Trent Vogelhuber. Smith picked up the puck off a faceoff in the right circle in the offensive zone and crossed it to Vogelhuber, who buried it to trim the Ohio State lead to 3-1. Cannone picked up the second assist for winning the faceoff that led to the play.

Cannone then added his first goal of the game at 18:24 of the second period to make it 3-2 in favor of the Buckeyes. He took a pass inside the left circle from senior Jarod Palmer and skated toward center-ice. Cannone faked a shot in the slot, pulled it back and fired a wrister from just inside the right circle through traffic and into the net.

After being outshot 9-6 in the first period, the RedHawks peppered Ohio State goaltender Dustin Carlson with 19 shots in the second period.

Matt Bartkowski added another goal for the Buckeyes at 14:55 of the third period to give Ohio State a 4-2 lead with just over five minutes to play.

Miami refused to give up and with freshman Joe Hartman in the penalty box, the RedHawks went on the attack. Junior Tommy Wingels stole the puck in neutral ice and passed ahead to junior Carter Camper, who carried it into the attacking zone, up the right side on a 2-on-1 break. He sent a perfect crossing pass to junior Vincent LoVerde, who finished off the one-timer from the left circle to close the gap to 4-3.

With time running out, Cannone intercepted a Buckeye pass in neutral ice and skated ahead on a breakaway. He used a quick wrist shot to beat Carlson and tie the game at 4-4 at 18:40 of the second period.

In overtime, Miami controlled the puck for much of the period, but couldn't get a solid shot on Carlson. At 6:35 of the extra frame, a RedHawk turnover led to a 3-on-1 breakaway for the Buckeyes. Peter Boyd fired a shot from the right side that Miami goaltender Cody Reichard was able to turn away, but Sergio Somma was skating in from the left side and hit the rebound into the goal for the game-winner, ending the game at 5-4, Ohio State.

"In overtime anything can happen," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "We made a bad decision and they capitalized on the 3-on-1. They played a great game and did what they had to do. Tomorrow both teams are going to leave it all on the ice."

Game 3 starts at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday at Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center and tickets are available. The winner moves on to the CCHA semifinals in Detroit at Joe Louis 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/IHblog031410.html.