No. 12 Ohio State Downed by No. 2 Miami, 5-1

The game was the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both squads

Oct. 19, 2007

From Ohio State Athletics

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 12-ranked Ohio State men's hockey team lost to No. 2 Miami, 5-1, Friday in Value City Arena in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both squads. The teams will close out the home-and-home series at 6:05 p.m. Sunday at Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio. The Buckeyes now are 2-1 on the year and Miami stays unbeaten at 3-0.

The Buckeyes opened the scoring on Tom Fritsche's shorthanded goal at 3:58, as he put in the rebound of a Tommy Goebel shot for his first goal of the year. The RedHawks responded with goals by Justin Mercier at 12:45 on the power play and 18:50 to end the first period with Miami ahead, 2-1. Ohio State had seven shots on goal in the period, the RedHawks eight.

Miami scored twice in the second period, with Nino Musitelli tallying at 5:57, followed by Tommy Wingels' score at 13:49. Miami put 16 shots on net and held the Buckeyes to seven.

The RedHawks scored the lone goal of the third period, when Gary Steffes redirected an Alex Martinez shot. Each team was 0-for-2 on the power play in the period. The Buckeyes outshot the RedHawks in the period, 11-9.

For the game, the RedHawks outshot the Buckeyes, 33-25. Buckeye sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer made 28 saves while playing all 60 minutes. Miami's Jeff Zatkoff stopped 24 shots in 59:50.

Postgame Notes
The Ohio News Network will televise the game Sunday in Oxford live.

Fritsche now has 91 career points (28 g, 63a). His shorthanded goal was the second of his career, with the first coming Oct. 20, 2005 vs. Bowling Green.

Ohio State is 32-10-3 all-time in home openers, including a 5-2-2 mark in Value City Arena.

Fritsche and senior Matt McIlvane share the team scoring lead with three points each (1g, 2a). Fritsche has one point in each game this season.