by Grand Forks, N.D. – In a thrilling Friday night faceoff at Ralph Engelstad Arena, the Miami University hockey team faced a tough challenge against the No. 2/4 North Dakota Fighting Hawks..
The first period set the tone for the night, with North Dakota seizing control on a power play.
Hunter Johannes (#12) opened the scoring at 11:59, capitalizing on a 3-on-1 break after a Miami offensive push.
The Fighting Hawks extended their lead to 2-0 at 14:32 when Jayden Perron’s (#18) crafty play resulted in a ricochet off a Miami defender, beating goaltender Logan Neaton (#31).
The RedHawks found themselves in a challenging position heading into the second period.
The middle stanza saw North Dakota extend their lead further, with Owen McLaughlin (#22) converting a backdoor finish from a Jackson Blake (#9) assist at 7:52.
However, the RedHawks quickly responded, with Thomas Daskas setting up a play that led to Hampus Rydqvist (#16) finding the back of the net at 9:19, bringing the score to 3-1.
The momentum continued for Miami as Matthew Barbolini (#29) netted another goal just 51 seconds later, courtesy of a perfectly executed play involving John Waldron (#17) and Jack Clement (#5).
Despite Miami’s efforts, North Dakota’s Jackson Blake (#9) reclaimed the momentum with an unassisted goal at 12:42, surviving a video review that scrutinized a potential hand pass.
McLaughlin (#22) and Carson Albrecht (#13) added two more goals for the Fighting Hawks, extending their lead to 5-2 by the end of the second period.
The third period opened with a quick strike from North Dakota, as Dylan James (#26) scored just seven seconds in, making it 6-2.
The RedHawks, however, didn’t back down. In a game marked by minimal penalties, they capitalized on a 4-on-3 situation late in the third period, narrowing the gap to 6-3 with Spencer Cox (#2) scoring his first goal as a RedHawk at 17:32.
The relentless effort continued until the final seconds, with Rihards Simanovičs (#19) and Clement(#5) combining for a goal at 19:58, finishing the night with a 6-4 scoreline.
Individual performances shone through the intense matchup. PJ Fletcher (#8) showcased his skills, finishing the game with a career-best +3 rating.
Simanovičs (#19) made his mark, notching the first point of his college career.
Faceoff specialist Blake Mesenburg (#26) dominated with an impressive 73.3% success rate, winning 11 of his 15 faceoffs, and also contributing with his first goal of the season.
Clement (#5) matched his career-high with two points, while goaltender Neaton (#31) made a commendable 36 saves in the face of relentless North Dakota attacks.
Looking ahead, the RedHawks have another chance to make their mark as they gear up for the second game of the series against the formidable Fighting Hawks on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:07 p.m. ET in Grand Forks.
