The Miami University Hockey team (9-9-2, 5-7-2-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) spilt their latest series with rival Ohio State University (OSU), who was ranked fourth in the nation heading into the series.
The RedHawks won the first game in Columbus, 5-3. They then lost the second game 3-2 in overtime at the Goggin Ice Center.
The win over the Buckeyes snapped OSU's nine-game winning streak and eleven-game unbeaten streak.
In the first game, Miami jumped out to an early lead when freshman forward Austin Czarnik scored his seventh goal of the year. Junior defenseman Joe Hartman and freshman forward Jimmy Mullin assisted.
However, the Buckeyes would tie the game less than 30 seconds later when they scored on a rebound shot that was originally blocked by senior goalie Connor Knapp.
The Red and White would retake the lead just 1:33 into the second stanza on a goal by freshman forward Blake Coleman. It was his sixth of the season and he was assisted on the play by sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo.
With only three minutes left in the second period, the RedHawks upped their lead to 3-1 with their fifth short-handed goal of the year.
Junior forward Reilly Smith stole the puck and passed it to senior defenseman Matt Tomassoni, who scored on a breakaway. OSU would answer quickly with a goal of their own just under a minute later to make the score 3-2.
In the third period, the 'Hawks would push the lead to two once again, this time just 2:43 into the period. This time is was Paulazzo scoring while being assisted on the play by junior forward Curtis McKenzie and junior defenseman Steven Spinell.
With 11 minutes left in the game, OSU would trim the lead to one when Knapp went behind the net to pass the puck off, but it took an odd bounce allowing the Buckeyes to notch another goal.
However, the RedHawks would score the last goal of the game when Smith found Mullin for his fourth goal of the season.
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The Red and White finished the game with 38 shots on goal, while OSU had 30. The RedHawks failed to score on any of their five power play chances, but killed five of the six chances OSU had. Paulazzo's two points tied a career high.
While the first game started off quickly, the second started off slowly with neither team scoring until the 11:14 mark of the second period.
The RedHawks struck first when McKenzie stole the puck and converted at the other end to put Miami up 1-0.
However, the Buckeyes would respond with a goal of their own just under two minutes later tying the game at one. Miami would take a 2-1 lead in the third period on a power play goal by Smith, his team-leading 12th of the year, with assists coming from Mullin and from senior defenseman Chris Wideman.
Ohio State's freshman forward Nick Oddo was whistled for a five minute major and a game misconduct for contact to the head, which subsequently led to an ejection.
However, the lead would be short-lived as the Buckeyes tied the game up just two minutes later.
Despite having plenty of opportunities, neither team was able to score again in regulation, which forced the teams into overtime.
Wideman was called for a questionable high stick in overtime, giving Ohio State a power play chance. The Red and White were able to kill it, but the Buckeyes scored just as Wideman stepped back on the ice.
The RedHawks outshot OSU by a 39-38 margin and OSU never led the game until their game-winning goal in overtime.
"We definitely have to be a lot more disciplined in our play and that is our number one priority," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said.
"We did a lot of good things, but it's the same thing that has hurt us all year and that is penalties," senior captain Alden Hirschfeld said. "The undisciplined play is killing us, has killed us and will continue to kill us until we learn to play disciplined."
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