NMU, Miami play to 3-3 tie

 

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University hockey team earned four of a possible six Central Collegiate Hockey Association points over the weekend and remains unbeaten in four straight games after a 3-3 tie with No. 6-ranked Miami University on Saturday (Jan. 12). The RedHawks picked up the extra conference point with a shootout win at the end of the overtime period from the Berry Events Center.

“”We were way better tonight than last night,”” NMU coach Walt Kyle said. “”We didn’’t have as many turnovers and we gave them was fewer grade A scoring chances. It was a much different game and I thought we played way better.””

The Wildcats held a 2-0 lead early in the second period but gave up three straight goals as Miami took the 3-2 lead. Sophomore forward Ryan Daugherty tied up the game with a shorthanded breakaway goal with 2:25 left in the third.

“”We knew the two-goal lead wasn’’t going to last”,” said Kyle. ““I liked our patience and poise after they tied it up and then took the lead. It was a great shorthanded play by Daugherty.””

Both teams had two shots on goal in the five minute extra session and Jimmy Mullin was the only skater to capitalize on his shootout chance.

Northern is now 9-10-3 overall and 3-9-4-1 in the CCHA and finished 1-1-2 against Miami this season. NMU hopped over Bowling Green in the CCHA standings and is two points behind Michigan and Michigan State. The RedHawks are 12-5-5 overall and 8-4-4-4 in league play.

Senior Kory Kaunisto scored his third of the season to open the game’s scoring. He whacked in a shot right in front of Miami goaltender Ryan McKay 15:13 into the game. Senior forward Matt Thurber picked up his first of two assists on the goal.

Junior forward Erik Higby added to the lead with his third of the season. He put home a rebound with the assists going to Thurber and sophomore forward Reed Seckel.

Matthew Caito cut the lead to 2-1 15:43 into the second with a power-play goal from Riley Barber and Sean Kuraly.

Barber then tied up the game with a shorthanded tally with two minutes left in the second. Austin Czarnik assisted on the goal.

Caito scored his second of the game to give the RedHawks the 3-2 lead with 4:37 left on the clock. Mullin and Czarnik assisted on the goal.

Sophomore defenseman Mitch Jones, freshman forward Ryan Aynsley, Thurber, Daugherty and junior defenseman Ludwig all missed their chances in the shootout.

Junior goaltender Jared Coreau finished the game with 29 saves. McKay stopped 22 shots for Miami.

NMU was 0-for-6 on the man advantage after nine RedHawks penalties. Miami was 1-for-5 after eight minor NMU penalties.

Northern continues play at home as the Ohio State Buckeyes come to town next weekend (Jan. 18-19).