A five-hole goal wasn't the way the Miami University hockey team wanted to start out its third weekend of play. Five minutes into the Oct. 15 game, St. Cloud State's Drew LeBlanc watched his shot slip through the legs of Miami University goalie Cody Reichard, but the RedHawks weren't about to let the weekend have the same fate.
"I thought that we played extremely well," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "We got better and our goal is to get better every time we step on the ice. There was a considerable amount of execution that was going on, which was nice to see. You really get to tell a lot about your team when the game is tied and every play can mean the game, and I thought we made a lot of good plays."
The No. 10/11 Huskies rattled the RedHawk reserve, but instead of dropping its mitts Miami shredded the nets of the National Hockey Center for six unanswered goals and a 6-3 victory. They followed the win with a 1-1 draw Saturday.
At the 10:04 mark Friday, senior Andy Miele instigated the onslaught and tied the game.
"We were a little down from it, but we tried to keep our composure and stay confident and stay positive," Miele said. "We have a veteran team this year, so everyone knew what they had to do. Everyone stayed calm and we got a goal right back then carried on from there."
Sophomore Curtis McKenzie took advantage of a one-man advantage and buried his first score of the season to put the Red and White up 2-1. The second power play goal of the first period was assisted by Chris Wideman and Matt Tomassoni. After being outshot 12-5, the Red and White maintained the lead into the second frame.
"You always have to be ready for the next play and we responded like we always do," Blasi said. "We take it one game at a time and if the game calls that we score some goals we are capable of doing that and we are capable of shutting teams down. We want to make sure to take care of our defensive zone first. I think we are capable of winning one nothing or 6-3, whatever the game dictates."
Halfway through the bridge period, senior Carter Camper got into the action and scored a goal assisted by Miele and Cameron Schilling before Bryon Paulazzo pounded the net with equal men on the ice. Paulazzo's score put the RedHawks on top 4-1. Schilling's assist on the play gave him three on the night.
Three minutes into the third period, Camper busted from the bad box and killed a 5-3 Husky advantage when he picked up a loose puck and blasted the biscuit top shelf out of the reach of a backhand save. Senior Pat Cannone found sophomore Reilly Smith for the final goal on the night, giving the RedHawks a 6-1 lead. The Huskies hammered in two goals in the closing minutes but it was too little too late for a comeback against the No. 4 Brotherhood.
"It was definitely an excited mood," Miele said. "Coach was really excited. Last weekend we lost the game ourselves. New Hampshire got up on us and we kind of buried ourselves. This weekend was positive and we played a good 60-minute game both nights."
Camper scored the opening goal Saturday, his third on the weekend, but the Huskies equaled the effort and the game went to overtime. The 'Hawks outshot the Huskies 5-0 in extra time but couldn't net the decisive score. The RedHawks' Connor Knapp totaled 24 saves while his counterpart, Dan Dunn, stonewalled 38 stops.
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"They are a feisty team that is really offensive," Miele said. "It was an up and down game and both teams were giving it their best. It's unfortunate we had to walk out with a tie because no one likes a tie, but it was really competitive so we are happy to walk away with four points on the road."
For the second straight week, a RedHawk was tabbed as CCHA Offensive Player of the Week, with Camper claiming the hardware for his weekend heroics. Camper leads the nation in goals and has scored at least one time in each of the first four contests. His nine points also are tied for first in the country.
"Carter is Carter," Blasi said. "He has always been able to put up points and make his mark that way. He is doing a really good job with the other captains to keep all the guys accountable and together and grounded and focused on what we need to do day to day."
Camper and company host Northern Michigan at 7:35 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23 to kick off league play.
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