Spartan Hockey Defeats Miami 4-0

Jan. 8, 2005

OXFORD, Ohio - Michigan State hockey continued its winning ways, earning a 4-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) at Goggin Ice Arena Friday (Jan. 7). It marked Michigan State's first win of the New Year and its fourth consecutive victory overall.

In a game that started slowly and didn't have much flow due to numerous penalties early on, the Spartans came away with a hard-fought victory.

"We have practiced very well lately, but we really struggled early on in the first period," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "We just didn't answer the bell to start the game. Miami is a really scrappy team and they come right at you. We had to fight for our life, but I thought we played very well in the second and third periods."

The first period was a tale of power plays and penalty kills. Michigan State began with two quick power-play opportunities. Miami's Todd Grant was called at the 47-second mark of the period for elbowing, and less than four minutes later, Grant took his second penalty of the game, being whistled for interference. The Spartans struggled keeping the puck in Miami's zone and were held scoreless on both early power-play chances.

Miami got its first opportunity with the man advantage at the 6:39 mark. Spartan forward Adam Nightingale was called for hitting from behind deep in the Miami zone. Nightingale received a five-minute major, as well as a game misconduct. The Spartans penalty killers were tested but proved solid, holding Miami scoreless in its opportunity with the man advantage.

Both teams traded chances with the extra skater, but were held scoreless throughout the first. The officials called back a Miami goal with less than one second remaining on the clock. The linesman dropped the puck while Referee Steve McInchak was talking to Coach Comley near the Spartan bench. Miami forward Marty Guerin faked a shot off of the face-off win, passed the puck up ice to Matt Christi, who cleanly beat Spartan goalie Dominic Vicari. Much to the disagreement of Miami fans, the officials met and called the goal off due to the invalid face-off. Both teams went into the locker room scoreless after the first.

MSU opened the second period of play with a spark both offensively and defensively. Vicari made a solid save on Miami's Nathan Davis, who attempted a wrap-around shot, while the Spartans failed to clear their zone early in the period. The Spartans broke the scoreless tie at the 2:35 mark on a power-play goal by junior forward Colton Fretter. Fretter took a clean shot in front of Miami's net after a scramble ensued to the right of RedHawk goaltender Charlie Effinger. With the goal, Fretter surpassed his previous career-best of 22 points and netted his team-leading sixth power-play goal of the season. He has 13 goals on the season. Senior captain Jim Slater and freshman Chris Mueller were awarded assists on the goal.

The Spartans took a 2-0 lead at the 12:56 mark of the second. Senior forward Mike Lalonde scored his third goal of the season, as he stormed the net and chipped in a shot from Tommy Goebel. Slater was awarded his second assist of the night on the play.

With 1:40 left in the second period, MSU scored its third goal of the game and its second on the power play. Slater recorded the goal, with assists from Fretter and sophomore forward Drew Miller. The captain took a pass from Fretter through the slot and tipped the puck in the net for his third point of the evening.

MSU opened the third period with a goal by freshman forward Bryan Lerg, who took a pass from defenseman Tyler Howells up the ice and fired a hard wrister from around the face-off circle. The goal marked Lerg's first point since Nov. 18. Junior David Booth received the second assist on the goal.

Miami looked to break Vicari's shutout streak when it went on its seventh power play of the game at 12:09 of the third. MSU defenseman Corey Potter was called for holding, giving the RedHawks the man advantage. Vicari came up big, making some solid saves and stopping numerous shots as the Spartans had trouble clearing the puck from their zone. Vicari stood strong as the Spartans killed off the power play and continued his steady play for the remainder of the period.

"They had a lot of shots on the power play," said Vicari. "I think we were getting outshot there for awhile, but we managed to get some shots and some goals. I felt pretty good and solid out there. This really helps to build the team's confidence, as well as my own confidence."

All told, Michigan State went 2-9 with the man advantage, while holding Miami scoreless in its seven attempts with the extra skater. Vicari earned his third shutout of the season and the 10th of his career with the Spartans 4-0 victory.

MSU will meet Miami Saturday (Jan. 8) in Oxford to finish out the weekend match-up. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m.

GAME NOTES

· The Spartans continue their winning ways into the New Year. MSU is now 4-0-0 in its last four games, including two wins at the Great Lakes Invitational to claim the championship.

· Junior forward Colton Fretter scored his sixth power play goal of the season Friday night. Fretter broke his previous season-best of 22 points, set his freshman season, with the goal. He now has 24 points on the year, including tonight's goal and assist.

· The last time that Michigan State shutout Miami was Nov. 22, 1999, when the Spartans beat the RedHawks, 3-0.