Michigan State University
Miami (Oh)
MSU Drops Heartbreaker at Miami, 2-1
10/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 23, 2009
Box Score
Post-Game Audio: Rick | Jeff | Bobby Jarosz
Oxford, Ohio -- - Michigan State's showdown with top-ranked Miami had the makings of shootout on paper, but it ended up a goaltending duel as both netminders made several quality saves in a tight 2-1 Red Hawk victory. Tommy Wingels had both goals for Miami, while Derek Grant had the MSU tally. Bobby Jarosz drew the start and made 26 saves for the Spartans, who fall to 3-2-0 and 0-1-0 in conference play.
The game-winning Miami tally came at 18:02. Two MSU defenders were battling Carter Camper for the puck in the low slot, and the puck bounced up high and behind the scrum and up to the hash marks - and onto the stick of Wingels, who just batted it instead of trying to settle it - and a screened Jarosz never saw it until it was in the left corner of the net.
"I thought we went toe-to-toe with a very good, experienced, physical team tonight," noted head coach Rick Comley. "I thought Bobby was outstanding, and we lost on a tough goal. Overall, I think we're getting a feel for how we're going to stack up with some good teams, and we're encouraged - now our next step is to put it all together and win games like this. "
The teams battled through a scoreless opening frame. Less than a minute into the second period, Andrew Rowe was awarded a penalty shot after blueliner Chris Wideman was whistled for hooking him on a breakaway attempt. Rowe's offering went to the right side, where Cody Reichard blocked it with his left leg pad.
Miami finally broke the scoreless deadlock at 11:45 of the second. With Trevor Nill and Torey Krug whistled for penalties 10 seconds apart, the Red Hawks had a five-on-three. The Spartans killed the first minute of it, with good pressure on the puck and a big save at the left post from Jarosz. However, Tommy Wingels took a pass from Pat Cannone and put a slapshot past a screened Jarosz for his first goal of the season.
Michigan State countered with a power-play goal at 15:17. Jeff Petry worked the puck up at the blueline, and made a pass to Corey Tropp down at the bottom of the left circle. Tropp got Reichard to commit, and slid the puck over to Grant at the right post, and he had an empty side to work with for his third goal of the season.
The teams will face off again on Saturday evening in an 8 p.m. game. The tilt will be broadcast by ONN and carried by Comcast in mid-Michigan.
NOTES: Derek Grant extended his point streak to five games with his second-period power play goal. He, Jeff Petry, and Corey Tropp all have five-game point-scoring streaks ... Bobby Jarosz was making his first career road start, and made 24 saves ... Andrew Rowe's penalty shot attempt was the first for the Spartans since March 16, 2007, when Justin Abdelkader had one against Michigan in the CCHA semifinals. Billy Sauer made the save. MSU's last successful penalty shot came on Dec. 9, 2006, when Chris Mueller scored against Western Michigan ... Michigan State blocked 18 shots on the night, led by Torey Krug's four. Miami finished with nine ... MSU went 1-for-7 on the power play, while Miami was 1-for-8 ...
