Miami Student

Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Sports

Senior captain Brian Kaufman battles a Spartan defender for the puck during Miami's five goal outburst Friday in East Lansing, Mich.

The Miami University men's ice hockey team played perfectly on the penalty kill and won its fourth consecutive road game against a ranked opponent.

The 'Hawks beat then No. 17 Michigan State University 8-2 in a conference series sweep. The RedHawks held the Spartans to just one goal per night, triumphing 5-1 Friday and 3-1 Saturday.

"I thought our power play and our PK (penalty kill) did a great job all night long," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. "We got fortunate on one of them, and that's way it goes."

Miami netted seven goals against the 2007-08 Michigan college athlete of the year, Jeff Lerg. MSUs senior goaltender put together one of the most decorated campaigns in school history during the 2007-08 season. Lerg was a Hobey Baker finalist, a Second-Team All-America selection, the CCHA First-Team goaltender and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Friday and Saturday, the RedHawks beat Lerg with ease, scoring all but one of their eight goals with him in net.

Out playing their highly touted counterpart were Miami's two freshman goalies Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp, who only gave up one goal apiece.

"The credit goes to the two goalies," Blasi said, "because they've been working their tails off."

Miami's penalty kill unit-ranked third going into the weekend-was called into action early in the first stanza of the series when freshman Cameron Schilling and sophomore Tommy Wingels were consecutively sent to the box, giving the Green and White a two man advantage. Miami's man-down unit made life hard on the Spartans, though, killing both penalties and challenging MSU to set up any potential scoring opportunities at even strength.

The Green and White rose to the test at 10:29 of the first period with a goal off the stick of senior Matt Schepke. The cheers of the Spartan faithful were still ringing in Munn Ice Arena, though, when Miami answered back just 14 seconds later. Sophomore Pat Cannone equalized the score after picking up a Jarod Palmer rebound, while in the process matching his goal total from a year ago at six.

The Red and White opened scoring in the middle frame and accomplished what Michigan State was unable to achieve in the first period-capitalizing on a man-advantage. Senior Raymond Eichenlaub fired a shot from the blue line, netting his ninth career goal off a dish from sophomore Andy Miele after MSU sophomore Andrew Rowe was called for clipping.

Continued...

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