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Miami drops to 4th in CCHA after sweep by Michigan

Tom Downey, For The Miami Student

The Miami University hockey team was swept by the University of Michigan this weekend, falling 4-1 Friday and 3-0 Saturday. The team was never able to muster enough offense, as only junior forward Reilly Smith was able to score for the Red and White.

The sweep drops Miami's record to 15-13-2 overall and 11-11-2-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The 'Hawks are now in a three-way tie for fourth in the CCHA with the University of Notre Dame and the Ohio State University. Miami is five points behind first place Ferris State University.

Smith, fresh off being named CCHA Player of the Month, scored Miami's only goal of the series. He now has 20 on the year, which leads the CCHA.

Michigan senior goalie Shawn Hunwick was also able to keep the 'Hawks out of the net for most of the series.

"It gets frustrating at times," senior forward Alden Hirschfeld said. "We didn't create as much offense as we'd like too. We didn't bury the pucks when had the chance."

Hunwick stopped 53 saves during the series, 12 of which came on Miami power play chances.

The Red and White have struggled on the power play for most of the year, which cost them against Michigan. The 'Hawks had six opportunities in each game but were never able to capitalize on them.

"We struggled to get set up and get pucks to the net," Hirschfeld said. "We didn't have many opportunities around the front of the net and when we did we couldn't score."

The RedHawks finished eight for 10 on the penalty kill over the weekend. Michigan scored twice on the power play in the first game, one of which came on a 5-3 power play. Michigan also managed a shorthanded goal in the second game.

The RedHawks fell behind quickly in the first game and were never able to recover. Michigan scored three times in the first period on senior goalie Cody Reichard.

Reichard was pulled after the first period in favor of senior goalie Connor Knapp.

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"I just thought Michigan executed and we didn't have an answer for them in the first period," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said.

Reichard finished with eight saves on 11 shots while Knapp finished with 12 stops and allowed only one goal, which came on a power play opportunity.

Knapp got the start in the second game and finished with 29 saves. Miami appeared to get on the board when senior forward Matt Tomassoni appeared to score his third shorthanded goal of the year, but the officials reviewed the play twice and overturned the goal.

"It was a frustrating weekend," senior defenseman Will Weber said. "I thought we played better the second game, but we didn't play to the level we needed to."

Weber got into a tussle after the game and received a disqualification (DQ). As a result, he will be held out the first game of next week's series against the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Freshman forward Jimmy Mullin was hurt in the first game and was held out of the second game. Blasi said it is unclear how long he will be out.