Bowling Green State University
MIAMI
RedHawks Down Falcons, 4-1, In Game One Of Second Round
March 14, 2008 | Ice Hockey
March 14, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - A two-goal night by Pat Cannone helped the #4 Miami RedHawks to a 4-1 victory over the Bowling Green State University hockey team on Friday in game one of their best-of-three second round Central Collegiate Hockey Association series. The Friday night playoff contest was held at MU's Steve Cady Arena.
With the victory, the RedHawks improved to 30-6-1 on the year, while the Falcons dropped to 18-20-0.
It was two goals in the second period that led the RedHawks to the win after BG grabbed the game's first goal early in the second period. Senior tri-captain John Mazzei scored a goal off his own rebound just 3:35 into the period, but was quickly answered back by Cannone just 16 seconds later as MU tied the game up at 1-1.
Nathan Davis then gave the RedHawks a 2-1 lead that they wouldn't look back from at the 14:44 mark on a breakaway goal that beat junior goaltender Jimmy Spratt low on the right. They went on to add two more goals in the third to bring the game's scoring to a close as they took the early 1-0 lead in the series.
"I thought we played an extremely good 5-on-5 game for the majority of the contest," said BG coach Scott Paluch. "Our special teams however, clearly hurt us. We couldn't generate much with our power play and failed to turn the momentum with those two five minute penalties. Clealy the difference was the special teams game and they beat us at that tonight."
The Falcons were given two five-minute power plays in the second period, along with a 5-on-3 power play in the first, but couldn't convert on any of their opportunities as they finished 0-for-5 on the night. One of the penalties against MU included a five-minute checking from behind and game misconduct penalty on RedHawk forward Ryan Jones, who would be out for the game's final 26 minutes. Jones, a First Team All-CCHA selection had a national-leading 29 goals heading into the game.
MU took advantage of the BG power play woes and scored two of their own in the third to put the game out of reach as they finished the contest 2-for-6 on the man-advantage. Cannone would score the first for MU at the 6:14 mark of the third, while freshman Tommy Wingels added the second at the 16:55 mark to cap the game's scoring.
Both teams played to 0-0 stalemate in the first period as the Falcons held a 9-6 edge in shots on net, but were unable to convert on three different power play opportunities. Despite the lead in shots for BG, the best opportunity of the period came from RedHawk forward Justin Vaive who was stopped point blank by Spratt in the slot near the period half-way point.
The save was one of many made by the Chesterfield, Mich. native between the Falcon pipes as he finished with 25 on the night. His counterpart, Jeff Zatkoff made 27 stops for MU on 28 BG shots. BG held an overall 29-28 edge in shots on net for the contest.
Finally, at the 3:35 mark of the second, Mazzei put the game's first point on the board as he collected his own rebound off a shot from the left circle. His shot from the slot beat Zatkoff for his ninth goal of the season and eighth in the last 16 games. Picking up his third assist on the play was senior tri-captain Michael Hodgson.
Cannone answered Mazzei's goal just 16 seconds later though at the 3:51 mark on a rebound goal of his own as Alec Martinez and Ryan Jones tallied the assists. Davis then scored with 5:19 remaining on his breakaway to give MU its' first lead of the game at 2-1. Vicent LoVerde and Mitch Ganzak tallied the assists on the eventual game-winning goal.
MU was led on the evening by Cannone with his fifth and sixth goals as he tallied two points along with Martinez, who had helpers 20 and 21 on the season.
The same two teams will return to the ice on Saturday for game two of this best-of-three series. First puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. as once again all the action can be heard by tuning into WBGU 88.1 FM with Danny Nieves and Bob Mills providing all the play-by-play.
