March 20, 2010

Final Stats

By Drew Davis

DETROIT, Mich. - Miami built momentum and likely jumped over Denver into the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Ferris State in the third-place game of the CCHA Playoffs. No. 1 Denver's loss to Wisconsin in the WCHA third-place game coupled with the RedHawks' win should move the Red and White into the top spot in the PairWise Rankings used to determine NCAA Tournament

Senior Jarod Palmer scored the game-winner, his 18th goal of the season, with just over four minutes to go in regulation and the Miami defense helped goaltender Connor Knapp hold on for the win.

The RedHawks got on the board first when freshman Steve Mason netted his first career goal at 4:44 of the second period. Senior Dane Hetland fired in a shot from the left side that deflected off the crossbar and into the crease. Mason crashed the net and got his stick on the puck to tap it in for the 1-0 Miami lead.

Ferris State answered back at 14:49 of the second period with a power play goal by Casey Haines. The initial shot came in from the left side and Haines was able to deflect it in from the right to even the score at 1-1.

At 15:56 of the third period, Palmer tacked on the go-ahead goal with a wrist shot from the point. Sophomore Chris Wideman passed to Palmer at the top of the left faceoff circle. Palmer moved toward center ice and took a shot through traffic that found the back of the net for the 2-1 Miami lead. Junior Andy Miele earned the second assist.

With 1:22 remaining, Ferris State pulled goaltender Pat Nagle in favor of the extra attacker. The Bulldogs tried to get the equalizer but Knapp and the Miami defense came up with a series of stops and clears to seal the game for the RedHawks.

"I'm extremely proud of our guys," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "We want to go in [to the NCAA Tournament] on a winning note. Now we start our quest to get back here to Detroit [to the Frozen Four].

Miami will find out its official seeding in the NCAA Tournament when the pairings are announced on the selection show on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. The RedHawks will likely open the tournament in the Ft. Wayne, Ind. Regional. Brick Street in Oxford, will host a selection show watch party, starting at 11 a.m.

Printer-friendly format	Email this article