Jarod Palmer and Andy Miele each had a goal and an assist, and Cody Reichard made a career-high 33 saves as second ranked Miami scored six second period goals en route to a 6-2 win over Ohio State Friday night at Steve Cady Arena.
Thirteen different skaters recorded a point for Miami, who moved to 24-5-6 overall, and 21-2-4-2 in the CCHA. Juniors John Albert and Sergio Somma each scored a goal in the losing effort for Ohio State, who dropped to 12-16-5 overall, 10-12-5-3 in the CCHA.
“Everybody is contributing for us,†said Miami head coach Enrico Blasi. “Whether it’s Miele’s line, Camper’s line, or Cannone’s line, it seems to be something different every night, or we get all of them going at the same time.â€
Goalies Dustin Carlson and Reichard got off to fast starts in the game, each turning away numerous chances to keep the game scoreless. The best chance for Ohio State came when sophomore winger Cory Schneider fired a shot from the blue line and regained his rebound from Reichard. Schneider’s second shot attempt was turned away by a diving Reichard, who finished the first period with 14 saves.
Sophomore defender Cameron Schilling nearly gave Miami the lead late in the first period on the power play. Miele faked a shot at Carlson, and then passed it to Schilling on the blue line, who put a one-timer on net. Schilling’s shot was deflected by an Ohio State defender, but still made it to the net, where Carlson made the glove save to keep the RedHawks off of the scoreboard.
The scoreless game ended early in the second period, when Miele put the RedHawks in front less than two minutes in. A Buckeye turnover deep in their own zone created the chance for Miele, who gained control of the puck to the right of Carlson. Miele got around an Ohio State defender and put the puck over the left shoulder of Carlson for his 13th goal of the year. The goal ignited an eight goal second period outburst between the two teams, with Miami scoring six of them.
Somma wasted no time getting the Buckeyes on the board, evening up the score one minute later. After Zac Dalpe’s shot was deflected by Reichard over the goal to the back boards, Somma picked up the loose puck and put his wrap around shot past Reichard for his 25th point of the season.
Steve Cady Arena was soon on its feet again, when sophomore winger Trent Vogelhuber scored the third goal of the period at 3:53 to put Miami ahead for good. Vogelhuber scored the goal on a one-timer in front of the Buckeye goal, after receiving a pass from junior Pat Cannone along the boards. Senior Dane Hetland celebrated his senior night with an assist on the goal, giving him his second point of the season for the RedHawks.
Miami took control of the game after taking a 2-1 lead, dominating the remaining 15 minutes of the second period. The RedHawks scored four more goals in 10 minutes, putting the game out of reach for the Buckeyes. Justin Vaive, Tommy Wingels, Vincent LoVerde, and Palmer all lit the lamp in the second period for the RedHawks, whose six goal outburst in the period was the most they have scored all season in a single period.
Freshman Reilly Smith added assists on two of the goals for the RedHawks, giving him 18 points on the year.
“I thought the first period was pretty even,†said Blasi. “In the second period, we got a real big goal from Vogelhuber. Once they tied it up, we scored right away on a great play by Cannone. We made some great plays after that, and even got a little bit of a bounce on Wingels’ goal. It was just one of those nights in the second period.â€
Albert cut the Buckeye deficit to four late in the second, adding his 6th goal of the season on a wrap around attempt that beat Reichard. Winger Ian Boots found Albert open to the left of Reichard, and fired it off the boards behind the Miami net. Albert gained control of the puck, and beat Reichard for the Buckeye’s second and final goal.
The two teams wrap up a home-and-home series tomorrow night at Ohio State. The puck drop is at 8:05 pm.
