Cameron Schilling celebrates his first period goal Friday night which gave the RedHawks an early 1-0 lead. (SCOTT ALLISON | The Miami Student)
The No. 16 Miami University RedHawks were swept this weekend, losing to the No. 18 Lake Superior State University Lakers (LSSU) 3-2 in the first game and 5-3 in the second. The sweep marks the first time since 2007 that the Red and White were swept in a home series. It was also Lake Superior State who swept them that year.
The RedHawks jumped out to an early lead in the first game when senior Cameron Schilling scored on co-captain Alden Hirschefld's missed shot at the 5:13 mark in the first period. Hirschfeld received his team-leading fifth assist of the year on the play and freshman Alex Wideman was also credited with an assist. However, Lake Superior State would tie the game at the 18:25 mark in the first period on Nick McParland's goal, just after a power play opportunity for the Lakers had expired.
The RedHawks would take back the lead just 1:06 in the second period on sophomore Bryon Paulazzo's first goal of the season. He was assisted by freshman Tyler Biggs and Schilling on the play. The assist gave Schilling his ninth career multi-point game. McParland would score again to tie the game at the 10:50 mark in the second period on a power play.
Miami had three power play opportunities in the third period, but were unable to capitalize. Junior Steven Spinell was called for charging with only 13 seconds left in the third, giving Lake Superior State a power play opportunity to start overtime. Forty-two seconds into overtime, Zach Trotman found the back of the net to give Lake Superior State the 3-2 overtime victory.
Goalie Cody Reichard finished with 20 saves for the game, while his counterpart, Kevin Kapalka, finished with 29 saves. The RedHawks killed four of the six power plays opportunities Lake Superior State had, while failing to score on any of their five opportunities. The 'Hawks led shots on goal, 31-23.
"We blew it," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "They played great and they executed more than we did. We didn't execute tonight and they did, they deserved to win. Our power play wasn't very good. We took an undisciplined penalty and they made us pay for it. We just got to keep playing. We don't have a choice."
The RedHawks fell behind early in the second game and their furious rally comeback attempt fell just short as they lost 5-3. Lake Superior State took a 1-0 lead at the 8:45 mark when McParland scored his third goal of the series, getting the puck past goalie Connor Knapp. Lake Superior State would take a 2-0 lead when Kyle Jean scored, with McParland getting an assist on the play.
Just over two minutes into the second period, Colin Campbell scored to give LSSU a 3-0 lead. The RedHawks would turn the puck over right in front of their own goal, giving Lake Superior State an easy goal and allowing them to take a 4-0 lead.
This led to a goalie change, as Reichard came in for Knapp. Hirschfeld would start the Miami rally, as he scored a shorthanded goal at the 11:19 mark of second period. It was his first goal of the season. He was assisted on the play by Spinell and redshirt senior Patrick Tiesling, who was given a game misconduct after the play. Biggs also scored a shorthanded goal, his first career goal, at the 15:42 mark in the second period. He was assisted by Spinell and senior Trent Vogelhuber. The two shorthanded goals also rejuvenated the home fans.
Freshman Blake Coleman trimmed the lead to 4-3, when he stole the puck, weaved through the defense and scored for an unassisted goal, his first goal of his career. With just over two minutes left, Domenic Monardo scored on a breakaway to put the game out of reach for the RedHawks.
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The Red and White goaltenders would combine to have 24 saves, 11 by Knapp and 14 by Reichard. Kapalka would save 28 for the Lakers. The RedHawks again led shots on goal, this time 31-30. They killed all four of Lake Superior State's power plays, while going 0-2 on their own. The team's power play struggles continue, as they are now 0 for their last 21.
The sweep drops the 'Hawks fall to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in CCHA play. The RedHawks will go on the road next weekend, as they travel to take on the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
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