Freshman Austin Czarnik advances the puck up the ice during Miami’s 3-2 victory over Bemidji State University Oct. 8. Czarnik and the RedHakws are looking to start conference play off with a weekend sweep of Ferris State University. (SCOTT ALLISON | The Miami Student)
The Miami University ice hockey team split their weekend series against the Colgate University Raiders. The RedHawks won the first game 4-3, but lost the second game in overtime, 3-2.
The RedHawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Reilly Smith power play goal that included an assist from freshman Tyler Biggs, giving Biggs his first career point. The Raiders took back the lead on two power play goals of their own. The Red and White would take a lead late in the second period on freshman Austin Czarnik's first career goal. He was assisted on the play by Chris Wideman and Smith.
Smith, who sat out the first series against Bemidji State University, then took over the game early in the final period, by scoring two goals to give himself a hat trick for the game. The second career hat trick by Smith gave the team a 4-2 lead. The Raiders would pull their goalkeeper and score a late goal to trim the lead to 4-3, but the RedHawks would stop the Raiders from scoring and win the game by a final score of 4-3.
The RedHawks were outshot 23-15 but still managed to find a way to win. The 15 shots matched their season low from last year. The team was also killed seven of the nine penalties they had.
Goaltender Cody Reichard managed to stop 20 of the 23 shots he faced, 10 of which came in the first period.
In the second game, the 'Hawks jumped out to an early lead on senior Patrick Tiesling's goal, which was the only goal of the first period. The Raiders would tie the game on a 5-on-3 power play in the second period. The RedHawks took back the lead on a goal by Smith, who was assisted by senior captain Alden Hirschfeld. However, Colgate would tie and force the game to go into overtime. The Raiders would win the game on a power play goal just 2:56 into overtime.
Miami was once again outshot in the game, this time by a margin of 40-22. Senior goalie Connor Knapp took the loss, but still made 37 saves. The RedHawks managed to kill seven of nine power plays for the second straight game, including two 5-on-3 advantages. Miami didn't impress on the power play in game two, as they went 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
"I think we're where we are supposed to be," Blasi said. "We knew going in that it was going to be a work in progress. I think the guys are starting to find some chemistry together. The pieces are starting to come together. We're getting better and better every day."
Captain Will Weber echoed similar thoughts saying, "I think we are on our way. It's the older guys and the younger guys getting on the same page. We just have to improve on some little things."
The RedHawks now stand at No. 7 in the USA Today poll and No. 10 in the USCHO.com poll. Smith was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Offensive Player of the Week, after his four goal series against Colgate. The Red and White will open CCHA play this weekend against the Ferris State University Bulldogs. Ferris State is ranked No. 14 in the USCHO.com poll and currently undefeated in the early season.
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"Ferris State is well coached, they work had play hard," Blasi said. "We've had great battles ever since I've been here. It's going to be a tough challenge this weekend, one that will make us better because they force you to get better."
If the RedHawks are to come out with two victories, they will need to figure out a way to break down a tough Bulldog defense.
"It'll be important to get pucks deep and possess the puck," Hirschfeld said. "We've struggled a little bit with possessing the puck this year. Ferris is a really good defensive team. They're hardworking they're tenacious and they play good team defense."
Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. for both games this weekend.
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