KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Senior captain Hugh McGing recorded his first career hat trick as the senior class powered No. 17/15 Western Michigan to a sweep of Miami after an 8-4 win on Senior Night at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday.
 
McGing finished the night tying his career-high with four points on three goals and an assist, senior defenseman Cam Lee had a career-high five assists and finished +5, senior forward Wade Allison had three points on a goal and two assists and senior forward Dawson DiPietro had an assist in the game. WMU also picked up goals by Cole Gallant, Austin Rueschhoff, Paul Washe and Ethen Frank. Gallant had a two-point night with an assist and Frank had three, chipping in with two assists in the win. Senior goalie Will Massey made his second collegiate appearance, playing the final 4:44 of the game and making one save.
 
The RedHawks took an early 1-0 lead with their second power play goal of the weekend just 2:04 into the first period. Gordie Green was alone in front of the WMU net in the slot. A Bronco defender got a stick on his shot but it trickled into the net for his 14th goal of the season.
 
Western Michigan responded with a pair of goals just 45 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead. Frank scored at 12:59, throwing a back-hander on net. The puck deflected off of the crossbar, off the back of Miami starting goalie Ryan Larkin and into the net for his ninth goal of the season with Lee picking up his first assist on the night and 14th of the season. Rueschhoff gave WMU a 2-1 lead at 13:44 on his 12th goal of the season. Lee played it up to Allison and the senior forward left a drop pass for Rueschhoff, who blasted it into the net. Allison picked up his first assist on the night and 12th of the season, with Lee picking up his second of the night and 15th on the season.
 
Miami tied the game up 46 seconds into the second period on a goal by Derek Daschke. Just seconds after Brandon Bussi robbed Karch Bachman of a goal Daschke skated in and put the rebound into the net for his 10th goal of the season.
 
WMU scored two more rapid-fire goals to retake the lead with McGing scoring his first of the night at 4:24 in the second period. Frank intercepted a clear attempt by a Miami player and threw the puck toward the net. Gallant sent the puck around the net and to McGing at the forward edge of the left circle and the captain one-timed it into the net to make it 3-2.
 
Just 45 seconds later Gallant made it 4-2 on his fourth goal of the season. Lee picked up the puck at center ice and brought it into the Miami zone. The defenseman found Gallant in the slot and the sophomore forward beat backup goalie Ben Kraws. Lee picked up his third assist of the night and 16th of the season on the goal.
 
The RedHawks responded again on the power play to get within one at 7:03 in the second. John Sladic slid a rebound past Bussi and into the net after a shot by Chase Pletzke.
 
Paul Washe scored the eventual game-winner at 13:16 in the second period. WMU had a 5-on-3 power play and McGing found Washe all alone in front of the net for the tap-in goal. Freshman defenseman also picked up an assist on the goal, his eighth of the season. Washe's goal was his career-high 12th of the season and McGing tallied his team-leading 22nd helper.
 
Just after the second power play expired McGing scored his second of the night, pushing the lead to 6-3 at 14:56 in the second period. Allison played the puck to Lee and Lee found McGing open in the right circle for the one-timer and the captain's 12th of the season.
 
Miami scored for the third time on the power play at 6:06 in the third period to cut the lead to 6-4. A pass between the top of the circles was deflected by a Bronco but bounced right to Karch Bachman in front of the net and he slid it past Bussi for his 10th goal of the season.
 
Allison pushed the lead back to three on a power play goal at 14:42, set up by DiPietro. Lee cycled the puck to his classmate and DiPietro threaded the needle to Allison at the right-side of the net for the tap-in. The goal was Allison's 10th of the season, with DiPietro picking up his 17th assist of the season and Lee tallying his 18th and fifth of the night, tying a NCHC record.
 
McGing completed his hat trick at 15:16, scoring on a feed from Ethen Frank to push the lead to 8-4.
 
Western Michigan will host either St. Cloud State or Omaha next Friday, Saturday and Sunday if necessary in the NCHC Quarterfinals. The opponent is still to be determined dependent on the outcome of Saturday's late matchup between Denver and Colorado College. Tickets are available now at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets starting at just $15.