Michigan State University
Miami (Ohio)
Icers Drop Second Straight to RedHawks
1/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 31, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision Saturday to Miami, despite a 29-save performance by netminder Dominic Vicari (Fr., Clinton Township, Mich.). The RedHawks, who sit a top the CCHA standings, received a stellar 34-save effort by freshman goalie Brandon Crawford-West.
"We started very sloppy, but we got better as the game went on," head coach Rick Comley said. "In the second period, we were all over them, but we still came out behind. It takes so much energy when you are playing from behind. That is why the first goal is so important. The whole team gets better when you score."
The Spartans and RedHawks picked up were they left off Friday night with high-energy, end-to-end action in the first period. But, it was the RedHawks who scored first, just 2:20 into the game.
In a scramble in front of the net, Todd Grant picked up a loose puck and put it past a sprawling Vicari for a 1-0 lead. Taylor Hunstead and Chris Michael picked up assists on the goal.
A critical momentum change went in the Spartan's favor at the start of the second period. State was able to kill a RedHawks power play, which included 1:07 of five-on-three action.
The Green and White finally solved Miami's Crawford-West at the 13:57 mark of the second period. Freshman A.J. Thelen (Savage, Minn.) let loose a powerful slap shot from the point. Mike Lalonde (Sr., Chewing, B.C.), who was battling for position in the slot, tipped the puck home to tie the game at 1-1. Chris Lawrence (Fr., Havertown, Pa.) also picked up an assist on the goal after digging the puck out and sending it over to Helen.
The tally ended an eight-goal draught for the junior right-winger who now has 15-13-28 points on the season. Additionally, Helen's assist gives him 8-15-23 points and keeps him among the nation's leaders in blue liner points.
Miami regained the lead, 2-1, at 18:25 of the second. Andy Nelson ripped a one-timer from the top of the right face-off circle that snuck over the left shoulder of Vicari.
"I really thought we took the momentum when we killed the five-on-three," Comely added. "It really hurt when they scored the goal at the end of the second period. We played as well as we could play, and still came out behind. Miami is just a big, physical and solid team, and when they clamped down defensively, our forwards just couldn't get to the puck."
The RedHawks put the game out of reach at 19:22 of the third period as Marty Guerin added an empty-net goal to make it 3-1. Guerin, a Lansing native, tallied three points on the weekend in his return to Mid-Michigan.
MSU now falls to third place in the CCHA, five points behind Miami and three points behind Michigan. Michigan may have the upper hand only trailing the RedHawks by two points with two games in hand. The Spartans return to action Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7:05 ET in Sault St. Marie, Mich., as they take on Lake Superior State.
