Jan. 21, 2007

OXFORD, Ohio - A goal by sophomore defenseman Raymond Eichenlaub early in the third period propelled No. 9 Miami to a 2-1 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-10-5, 7-7-4 CCHA) on Sunday and moved the RedHawks (18-8-2, 13-5-2 CCHA) within one point of Notre Dame at the top of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. With two games in hand on Miami, Notre Dame leads the league with 29 points and a 14-3-1 record. The RedHawks and Fighting Irish meet for a two-game series next weekend (Jan 26-27) in South Bend, Ind.

Junior Ryan Jones put the RedHawks up 1-0 at the 2:57 mark of the first period as he banged home the rebound of a shot by freshman Dane Hetland. Junior Nathan Davis gained the OSU zone and avoided two Buckeyes before he dropped the puck for the Hetland, who fired a shot on Joseph Palmer that set up Jones' team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Tommy Goebel responded for Ohio State at 5:06 of the first with his eight goal of the year that came on a shot from the top of the slot that beat Miami netminder Jeff Zatkoff and made it 1-1.

After a scoreless second period, Eichenlaub potted the game-winner just 1:38 into the third period when he picked up a loose puck in the Miami zone and carried the puck all the way down the left wing boards. The fleet-footed Eichenlaub then unleashed a wrist shot from just below the left hash mark that beat Palmer low on the stick side and made the score 2-1. Eichenlaub's second game-winning tally of the season capped off a three-point weekend that included a pair of assists in Friday's 4-4 tie with the Buckeyes.

After allowing Ohio State's only goal of the game early in the first period, Zatkoff was outstanding between the pipes for Miami and turned away 26 shots as he improved to 10-4-1 on the season. Nine of Zatkoff's 26 saves came in the third period when the RedHawks successfully thwarted four Ohio State power plays.

In the game, the Buckeyes went 0-for-6 on the power play, while Miami was 0-for-4 with the man-advantage. It was the 15th time this season that Miami held its opposition without a power-play goal

Joseph Palmer turned away 30 shots for Ohio State, including 26 over the first two periods and saw his record drop to 9-8-4.

NOTES: Nathan Davis' assist in the first period was his 40th point of the season, which ties his career high from last year ... Hetland's assist came on his first shift after not seeing action since Nov. 25 ... Miami outshot Ohio State 32-27.