Miami Student

Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Sports

Miami heads to Worcester, Mass. to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Its first round opponent is No. 4 seeded Air Force Academy.

A wild week of hockey that saw the puck fatefully bounce both for and against Miami University left the RedHawks standing as one of four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Miami fought its way into the CCHA Championship game where it was defeated 2-1 by the University of Michigan Saturday March 22. The 'Hawks outshot the Wolverines 21-12 in the first two periods, but were held scoreless until there were only 39 seconds left in the game. Alec Martinez's blast from the blue line on Saturday gave Miami its second goal with under a minute to play in two consecutive games.

Miami's late goal the previous night sent the RedHawks into an overtime period against the University of Notre Dame, which Miami went on to win; this time, however, the team's late game magic was not enough as it fell to Michigan for the third time this season.

The Red and White had a chance to score early when senior captain Ryan Jones wrapped the puck around the back of the net in the first period. A diving Billy Sauer stopped his initial attempt as the puck hit off the post and scooted under the Michigan goalie. The puck appeared to be smothered and the referees blew the play dead. However, video review revealed that the puck was still loose and sitting right on the line. The goal was waved off since the play had already been whistled to a stop.

This missed opportunity epitomized Miami's entire night. Later in the game, the 'Hawks went on back-to-back power plays but failed to record a single shot on goal during the four-minute stretch with a man advantage. Miami outplayed Michigan during the first two periods of the game, but Sauer's magnificent play in net for the Maize and Blue held the 'Hawks at bay.

Failing to capitalize on their opportunities eventually left the RedHawks in too deep of a hole to climb out.

"It was everything that you would expect from a championship game," said senior forward Nathan Davis. "We are two different teams; they are more of a team that likes to get up and go and we focus more on puck

possession. At times we both did a good job of playing our own game, but in the end they just buried their chances."

Miami started the CCHA tournament with a sweep of Bowling Green State University at home in Steve Cady Arena March 14-15.

Continued...

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