OXFORD, Ohio – Junior goalkeeper Lukas Hafner did everything he could for Western Michigan hockey on Friday night but an early goal by Miami turned out to be costly as the Broncos fell to the RedHawks, 1-0 at Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio.
After an interference penalty, Miami's Blake Coleman slapped the puck past Hafner to score the only goal of the game and give RedHawks the 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game. WMU had their opportunities in the period with two power plays totaling three shots but couldn't capitalize. Junior Kenney Morrison had a chance to equalize the game on the power play but the shot sailed just wide of the net.
The second period proved to be very entertaining with two penalty kills for WMU. The Broncos had an early chance on their power play as sophomore Taylor Fleming rocketed a shot from the top of the zone but Miami goaltender Jay Williams made the glove save. Miami almost put another goal on the board late in the period after a Miami shot went behind Hafner and off the post. The RedHawks applied the pressure in the period, outshooting the Broncos 9-5.
WMU's best chance in the third came on the power play as junior forward Nolan LaPorte caught a perfect crossing pass and was looking at a wide open net but his stick had other ideas as it broke and ended any scoring chance. With 20 seconds left, WMU had a face-off just outside of the Miami zone when the puck flew up in the air and right onto the stick of senior Justin Kovacs but the senior forward was ruled off side.
The Broncos fall to 3-7-1 on the year and 1-5-1-1 in conference play. After outshooting the RedHawks 11-5 in the first period, Miami put their offense to work outshooting WMU, 28-23. The Brown & Gold will be back in action for game two of the series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.
