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Miami hockey team putting in lots of OT

1:22 AM Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Miami insider

Pete conrad

When it comes to overtime, Miami University’s hockey team is going into overdrive.

Three of the RedHawks’ six games this season have gone into at least one extra period, and that’s four out of seven it you count last year’s NCAA Championship Game. Miami coach Enrico Blasi wouldn’t be surprised to see more of the same.

“Everything is so tight,” said Blasi, whose team stands 4-1-1 overall, 1-1-0 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The RedHawks split with Michigan State last week, winning the opener 2-1 at Steve Cady Arena and then losing Saturday’s contest 3-2 in OT.

“We’re in a tough conference and we have a tough nonconference schedule,” he said.

Another reason the RedHawks can expect each game to be an energy-draining grind is their No. 1 ranking. That makes a target which is impossible to ignore.

“I’m sure everybody’s gunning for us,” Blasi said. “It doesn’t change what we do ... But we’re going to get everybody’s best and that will force us to be at our best.”

Miami will play Northern Michigan in a pair of 7:35 p.m. games on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, in Marquette, Mich.

If past history is any indication, this series won’t be easy for the RedHawks, either.

“I think they’re really good, one of the top teams in the country with the skill level they have,” Blasi said. “Every time we play Northern it’s a battle.”

Last season Northern Michigan finished sixth in the CCHA with an 11-12-5 record, but rallied from a first-game loss in the second round of the conference playoffs in Oxford to beat Miami 3-2 and 3-1, which eliminated the RedHawks from the playoffs and almost ended their season.

Overtime success

Miami’s field hockey team stands 4-0 in overtime matches this season after junior midfielder Christine Brightwell scored a goal 3:38 into the extra period to give the RedHawks a 2-1 victory at Missouri State last week.

The RedHawks can clinch the Mid-American Conference title this weekend with a pair of victories Saturday at Kent State and Sunday in their regular-season finale at Ohio.

Kent State leads the MAC at 7-1, but Miami and Ohio are just one game back, both at 6-2.

Looking for momentum

After losing 3-of-4 matches, the women’s soccer squad hopes to take a two-game winning streak into the MAC Tournament, which starts Sunday. The RedHawks will play at a campus site to be determined. Central Michigan (14-3-1, 9-0-1 MAC) is the team to beat.

Miami (9-7-1, 5-4-1 MAC) closes out its regular season with a home match at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 against Ball State.

The RedHawks clinched a berth in the eight-team tourney by winning 2-0 over Northern Illinois last Sunday. Senior Krista Pace recorded her sixth shutout of the year; she ranks third in the MAC in both goals-against average (0.68) and save percentage (86.7).

Longing for home

Miami’s volleyball team is 4-0 in conference matches played at Millett Hall this season, but that won’t help the RedHawks this week as they conclude a stretch of four straight road matches Friday at Akron and Saturday at Buffalo.

The RedHawks, who are third overall in the MAC standings and second in the East Division with a 7-3 record (12-10 overall), are looking for their first weekend road sweep of the conference season. They have gone 1-1 in their three previous road trips.

Coming up

Men’s golf: The RedHawks, after finishing fifth at last week’s Georgetown Invitational behind junior Michael Drobnick (who tied for fifth among individuals), will play Nov. 1-2 in the Renaissance Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla.

Men’s and women’s cross country: Both Miami teams will run in the MAC Championship Saturday at Ohio University.

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