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Five freshmen lead MU in OSU sweep

By Steve Perkins, For The Miami Student

Five freshmen propelled the Miami University hockey team to its first sweep of the season in a home-and-home series against Ohio State University. The young guns scored 10 of the team's 16 points, leading the RedHawks to a 3-2 win Friday in Columbus and a 3-1 win at home.

On Friday night Miami opened the scoring with a goal from senior Andrew Schmidt about halfway into the first period with assists coming from senior Chris Joyaux and freshman Ryan Siroky. Ohio State responded with one of their own just under seven minutes into the second. The game would remain tied headed into the final frame.

The scoring would go back and forth one more time with freshman Kiefer Sherwood giving Miami a lead before Ohio State would tie it at two goals with only 2:45 to play. Just over a minute later, Miami freshman Jack Roslovic would put home the go ahead goal.

Roslovic said coach Blasi has made it easy to transition into the team's systems.

"Coach does a really good job, he's a player's coach," Roslovic said. "It's been pretty smooth."

Roslovic would finish the weekend with two goals and an assist earning him the title of NCHC freshman of the week.

Ryan McKay saw 27 shots on Friday and made 25 saves. Both goals would come off the stick of Senior leader Anthony Grecco. McKay would start again Saturday night.

The two teams rallied after Friday's game and made the trip from Columbus to Oxford for the second game of the weekend which Miami would also win. Like Friday, Miami would open the scoring in the first period on Saturday with a tally from a freshman yet again, this time it was Josh Melnick on the powerplay for his second of the season. The assists would go to Roslovic and sophomore Anthony Louis- his first point of the season.

Head coach Rico Blasi spoke to the freshmen's performance so far.

"Well, after two weekends, they're not freshman anymore," Blasi said. "They're going to have to play for us and they're going to have to produce. Everybody matters in our locker room."

Ohio State would tie the game for the third time in the series early in the second. It was freshman Mason Jobst finding the net on a shot senior goaltender Ryan Mckay said he "never saw".

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McKay would complement his 25 save night on Friday with 27 saves on 28 shots in the second game of the series. He would finish the weekend with a .945 save percentage and a 1.5 goals against average.

McKay gave a lot of credit to his defensemen for his success during the series.

"They're moving their feet and keeping tight gaps," McKay said. "That's the name of the game. Any defensive coach will teach you that."

With just over six to play in the second it was freshman phenom Jack Roslovic putting home a go ahead goal for the RedHawks, his third of the year. Melnick picked up the assist in his second multi-point game as a 'Hawk.

Miami started the third period up one goal and with 4:46 left on a powerplay, an opportunity they would take advantage of. It was freshman Zach LaValle burying his first NCAA goal with 17:55 remaining in the game. Sherwod would pick up one assist on the goal, senior defenseman Matthew Caito the other.

The powerplay was 0-2 on Friday in Columbus but was 2-5 with 11 shots at home on Saturday. Miami held off OSU during all seven of their man advantages in the weekend.