OXFORD, Ohio – The Western Michigan hockey team wrapped up the regular season with its fifth straight win after completing the sweep of Miami, with a 4-2 road in at Steve Cady Arena on Sunday afternoon.
 
Sophomore defenseman Ronnie Attard led the way with a goal and two assists, while Ethen Frank, Luke Grainger and Paul Washe also tallied goals on the day. Sophomore goalie Brandon Bussi made 19 saves to pick up his second straight win. The Broncos outshot RedHawks 28-21 on the day and WMU's vaunted power play finished 1-for-2.
 
After a scoreless first period, Frank gave Western Michigan a 1-0 lead just 1:03 into the second. Drew Worrad got the puck from Attard deep in the WMU zone. Worrad chipped it up to Frank and the speedy forward weaved his way through three Miami players before tucking the puck under the crossbar and past Ludvig Persson for his team-leading 13th goal of the season. Worrad picked up his team-leading 19th assist of the season, while Attard tallied his 12th.
 
Minutes later Grainger scored at 5:09 to push the lead to 2-0. Jarred White pushed into the MU zone with an odd-man rush and left the puck for Michael Joyaux. Joyaux found Grainger wide open at the backdoor for the tap-in goal, Grainger's fourth of the season. Joyaux picked up his ninth assist and White recorded his second of the season.
 
The RedHawks responded with two goals in 2:01 to erase the deficit. Robby Drazner found the top corner of the net at 8:54. Then Rourke Russell tied it up at 2-2 after his slap shot went wide, bounced off the boards and off the back of Bussi's skate and into the net.
 
Attard tallied the game-winning goal at 6:23 in the third period. The Philadelphia Flyers' draft pick took the puck into the Miami zone and dropped it for Jason Polin. Polin had it in the corner and passed it to Scooter Brickey in the right circle. Brickey then found Attard at the back door. His initial shot was stopped but he punched in the rebound for his seventh goal of the season, making it 3-2.
 
Washe added an empty-net goal as insurance with 21 second to lay. Miami had pulled its goal despite being on the penalty kill. Washe won a faceoff in the WMU zone back to Attard and he settled the puck near the Western Michigan net. Attard then split the defense and found Washe wide open for the breakaway empty-netter on the power play.
 
With the regular season wrapped up the Broncos must wait for the rest of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference to wrap up play next week. After that it's the first round of the NCHC Playoffs up in Grand Forks, N.D. beginning March 12. The tournament is single elimination and times/opponents are still to be determined.