About covering the RedHawks

Covering the RedHawks was one of the most fun assignments I've seen in college. It was also one of the most demanding, in time and effort.

I had to go to each game, of course. That meant staying here at least every other weekend to see the games from the press box, while all my friends were back at home or in Oxford relaxing.

I attended the weekly pressers with Coach Montgomery, and the games. I had the chance to meet some interesting people, like former Notre Dame coach and current commentator Lou Holtz or Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger while I was working the games. I sat in the same place as the big-newspaper journalists, broadcast coverage, scouts and statisticians.

The experience was invaluable.

Here's the view from my desk, at the beginning of the Syracuse v. Miami game:


Possibly the best part of the box is the free food and soda.

The game looks completely different from up there. It's relatively quiet, and a studious work environment, with stats and scores flying around constantly. I was in a sports geek's heaven.


The two guys beside me were from the Daily Orange, the student news-
paper of Syracuse University. They were unhappy from here until
the game ended.

I also traveled to Ohio University for the Bobcats-RedHawks matchup in late November. I left Thanksgiving break 2 days early to cover the game.

The RedHawks made it to the MAC Championship game, so I made the trip up to Detroit to see them play. I sat in the press box at Ford Field--


A view down the length of the press box.

Ford Field was daunting, yet strikingly magnificent. I suppose many sportswriters may take it for granted, but these are by far the best seats in the house.

I also covered the hockey team for one article, after the football season came to an abrupt end. The hockey press box, unlike the football boxes, seemingly places you right in the action.


Right in the action.

The hours are strange, and sometimes bad. The travel schedule can be grueling. This is anything but a 9-5 job. Sometimes the people are difficult to interview, or the Mapquest directions are difficult to read. Your stories are due almost as soon as the clock expires.

I think I'd still give a lung or leg to do this the rest of my life.

--Michael Truax
December 8, 2007

RedHawks Squeeze the Orange

by Michael Truax
8/29/07

The Miami RedHawks (2-3) secured their first home victory since November of 2005, beating the Syracuse Orange (1-4) with the strength of its running attack.

Miami was coming off of a crushing 42-0 defeat at the hands of the Colorado University Buffalo. The loss was the first time the RedHawks had failed to score a point since 1993.

Syracuse, on the other hand, seemed to be heading in the opposite direction. The week before the game this week, the Orange defeated the University of Louisville Cardinals, ranked #18 at the time, at Louisville. The Cards as a result have dropped out of the top 25 of most official polls.

Miami senior Cory Jones, taking the place of injured Brandon Murphy, scored both touchdowns for the RedHawks, the first of his college career. Murphy was hurt in the second game of the season against Minnesota, but had not been effectively replaced until Saturday.

Jones had been battling injuries through the first four years at Miami. He had only three rushes this season prior to the game against Syracuse, in which he had 12 rushes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

The RedHawks scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, one coming after quarterback Mike Kokal connected with leading receiver Dustin Woods for 39 yards to the Syracuse two yard line. Kokal would finish the game with 150 yards passing and 63 yards rushing, while throwing three interceptions.

Going into the half Miami led 14-0, which allowed them to attack the Orange’s main defensive weakness, its run defense. Going into the game, Syracuse had given an average of 217.8 yards per game on the ground. The RedHawk running game, led by Jones, allowed them to keep the Orange off of the field for a chance to make a comeback.

With just over 9:16 to play in the third, Syracuse scored a touchdown on a 43 yard pass from Andrew Robinson to receiver Mike Williams, capping a five play drive over 76 yards in only 1:42, bringing the Orange to within a touchdown of Miami.

The defenses battled until Miami drove down to the two yard line, where the offense stalled. Trevor Cook kicked a 19 yard field goal to put Miami up by 10 points and two possessions, with 5:18 left in the game.

Orange quarterback Andrew Robinson manufactured a one-minute drive ending with a 28 yard touchdown pass to receiver Taj Smith, leaving 4:16, enough time to make the RedHawks nervous.

Miami, after a short possession, forced the Orange to turn the ball over on downs to effectively end the game.

“We’ve been lacking confidence (the past two games),” said RedHawk coach Shane Montgomery. The combined score of the last two games was 89-10 in favor of the opposition. “This is a huge win for us today.”

Montgomery praised Miami’s rushing game, which helped them move the ball and dominate the time of possession. “It was imperative that we got the run going,” said Montgomery. “There weren’t as many big plays by passing as we would have liked.”

Montgomery also noted that the decision to start sneaky quarterback Kokal over traditional pocket-passer Daniel Raudabaugh stemmed from analysis of Syracuse’s earlier games, in which they had trouble containing more mobile quarterbacks.

Mike Kokal said in the post-game press conference that he was not satisfied with his game.

“Once again, I wasn’t where I wanted to be.” Later, he would add, “But whatever it takes to win is whatever it takes to win.”

Junior linebacker Clayton Mullins acknowledged the success of Miami’s defensive line during the game.

“When we have success on the line, we turn them into a one (-dimensional team),” said Mullins.

Cory Jones entered the press conference on crutches, for what he said was a slight left-knee sprain. He gave his appreciation for the Miami offensive line.

“For the most part, the offensive line was creating huge holes, making it easy for me,” he said.

Kokal also discussed the good game of the offensive line, and said they had “blocked their tails off.”

NOTES:

-The 286 yard effort was Miami’s best since running for 399 yards in 1999 against Akron.

-Miami gave up a paltry 66 yards rushing to Syracuse, nearly twice the Orange’s per-game average. It led to the media jokingly asking in the press conference whether the RedHawks counted the run-stopping effort as a success or failure.

-Miami punter Jake Richardson had a great game, punting 6 times for an average of over 47 yards, with three inside the 20 yard line.

-Junior middle linebacker Joey Hudson recorded 10 tackles, 5 solo, with 1.5 for loss.

-Colorado University, who dismantled the RedHawks last week, upset the #3 Oklahoma Sooners 27-24 on Saturday.

-The RedHawks play the Kent State Golden Flashes away on Saturday, starting a three-week battle against Mid-American Conference teams. Miami will only play one more non-conference game, at Vanderbilt of the South Eastern Conference.

Miami v. Buffalo Preview

by Michael Truax
11/01/07

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE IN THE MAC EAST

Saturday’s match-up between the Miami RedHawks and the Buffalo Bulls could decide the East Division’s entrant in the Mid American Conference title game on December 1.

The Bulls (4-5) come to Yager stadium 3-0 in MAC East games. The surging Bulls have won three of their last four games, with the three wins against MAC teams and a loss at Syracuse week eight.

Last year at this time, the Bulls were 0-5 in MAC play and 1-7 overall. They had beaten a weak Temple team to start the season. The Bulls would finish the 2006 season 2-10 overall, and 1-7 in conference games, at the bottom of the MAC East.

Up to this time last season, Miami was 1-8 overall, and 1-4 in MAC games, with its single win coming against Buffalo. Miami finished second-to-last in the MAC East.

There have been major changes in the standings this year so far. Miami and Buffalo combined for four wins in 2006 and finished as the bottom two team in the MAC East; this year, the teams are combined for eight, with five games left to play and are on top of the East. Ohio University and Kent State University were the top two in the East in 2006, and now are the bottom of the standings.

This year, Buffalo is in the running for the East title for the first time in nine years in the conference. Miami is second in the East, and a win on Saturday would give them the advantage in a tie-breaker, should the teams end the season with identical division records.

“All you have to do is look at the standings,” said Miami head coach Shane Montgomery. He insisted that the RedHawks would not overlook the Bulls, despite a one-sided historic series.

“It’s not like it’s a one-to-two game fluke,” he said. “They’ve played very well.”

Montgomery noted that the Bulls are playing with confidence, which increases their level of play.

Buffalo will try to end a series shut-out against the RedHawks on Saturday—In nine previous games against Miami, the Bulls are 0-9. The first game between the teams was in 1951, and the RedHawks and Bulls have seen each other in each of the last eight seasons.

The Bulls have been ending several such embarrassing streaks this season. They beat Akron and Toledo for the first time in their history.

Buffalo, since coming to the MAC in 1999, has not won the East in whole or part, and has never won the championship. A win at Miami on Saturday would guarantee the Bulls at least a share of the East title. The Bulls’ four wins are the most they have recorded in a season since moving to Division 1-A and joining the MAC in 1999.

“The team that’s going to win the championship is the team that plays the best at the end,” said Montgomery.

The RedHawks (4-5) enter the game 2-1 in MAC East play this year, having lost at Temple week eight in a contested 17-24 game. The RedHawks recorded a tough loss at Vanderbilt last week.

Miami’s next two games, against Buffalo and Akron, are at home. Miami then travels to Ohio University, to end the regular schedule.

The RedHawks and Bulls face each other as the East leaders, and are both contending for an entry to the MAC Championship on December 1 at Ford Field in Detroit, home of the Lions of the NFL.

The RedHawks have went to the championship in 2003 and 2004, with quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Josh Betts. Miami last win in the MAC championship was in 2003, at Bowling Green. In 2005, Miami shared the MAC championship, but lost the tie-breaking criteria and did not go to the championship.

WHERE: Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio.
WHEN: November 3, at 3:00.
BROADCAST: ONN (TV); ESPN Game Plan (TV); WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton); WFTK-FM 96.5 (Cincinnati); WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, IN); WONE-AM 980 (Dayton).

STRONG DEFENSE
Miami leads the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 25.8 points per game. Against MAC teams, Miami has allowed an average of 16.8 points. The RedHawks, however, are sixth in the conference, yielding over 410 yards per game.

IN THE RED
Buffalo leads the conference in red zone efficiency, scoring 27 out of 30 trips inside the opponents’ 20, with 19 touchdowns. The three failures are all turnovers on downs. Miami is 12th in the MAC out of 13 teams in red zone efficiency, scoring only 22 times in 34 attempts.

FOOT PROBLEMS
Nathan Parseghian of the RedHawks will most likely start again on Saturday as Miami’s place-kicker in front of Trevor Cook. Miami’s coaching staff has shown concern over the RedHawks trouble on kicking, making only 11 of 19 field goals this year. Montgomery said the effort was “not good enough,” but noted that there has been no evidence in practice that Cook would perform better.

KOKAL RETURNS
Quarterback Mike Kokal (Miami) is questionable for Saturday’s game. Coach Montgomery said he would likely dress, and may be ready if needed. The RedHawks have kept backup Clay Belton off of the field, in an effort to preserve his red-shirt freshman status. “You’re getting to that point in the season where you just can’t worry [about preserving lightly-injured players] anymore,” Montgomery said.

Miami v. Buffalo, Recap

by Michael Truax
11/03/07

MIAMI DOWNS BUFFALO
The Miami RedHawks finally control their own destiny.

After defeating the University at Buffalo Bulls (4-6) on Saturday, the RedHawks (5-5) share the top spot in the Mid-American Conference East with the Bulls. Since the RedHawks won the head-to-head match on Saturday, they own the first tiebreaker if both teams finish with the same records in-conference.

Therefore, if the RedHawks win their next two games against the University of Akron and Ohio University, they will be locked into the MAC championship game at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Ohio Bobcats and Akron Zips are struggling this year, after finishing first and third in the MAC East in 2006. Ohio lost the MAC championship to Eastern Michigan last season.

On Saturday, the RedHawks lost the lead early, letting Buffalo running back James Starks run for 92 yards down the center of the field for a touchdown with 10:01 to go in the first. It was the second-longest rush in Yager Stadium history, bested by a 96-yard run by Kent State in 1996.

Miami responded two minutes later by kicking a 34-yard field goal to bring the score within four points.

Buffalo stalled after an four-minute, eight-play, 14-yard drive ended with a sack by Miami linebacker Joey Hudson on third down for a loss of 10 yards.

On the next possession, Miami would manufacture a 56-yard drive finished by a reception by running back Cory Jones for 17 yards and a touchdown.

With just under three minutes to play in the half, Miami added another touchdown on a run by true-freshman Thomas Merriweather to push the score to 17-7, Miami.

Buffalo was able to respond quickly, however. The Bulls moved the ball 70 yards in 2:27, capping the drive with a connection from quarterback Drew Willy to receiver Naam Roosevelt for a 13-yard touchdown.

With 0:24 to go in the half, Miami returner Jamal Rogers fumbled a kickoff, giving the Bulls possession deep inside Miami territory. The Bulls kicked a field goal as the period expired to tie the game.

The RedHawks responded in the third quarter with a 78-yard drive ending with Merriweather’s second touchdown of the game.

Miami forced Buffalo to punt after Joe Coniglio recorded his second sack of the day to end the drive.

Miami punt-return man Geno Harris couldn’t hold on to the ball, however, and fumbled at the RedHawk 27-yard line.

Buffalo could not take advantage of the RedHawk miscues, and lost three yards on three plays to kick a field goal to make the score 24-20, Miami.

Miami would score another touchdown in the quarter on a 6-yard Harris catch to end the drive of 83 yards.

With 2:54 to go in the game, Buffalo scored a touchdown on a 16-play, 80-yard drive. The Bulls brought the score within a field goal by successfully completing the two-point conversion.

On the next possession, Miami used only 0:22 of the clock on a three-and-out drive, with Buffalo utilizing time-outs to stop the clock.

Buffalo got the ball back with 2:27 left, down 28-31. Miami cornerback Jeff Thompson sacked Willy on the fifth play of the drive forcing a fumble, recovered by Travis Craven.

Buffalo was not able to stop Miami from running-out the clock to win the game, 31-28.

Miami ended the game with six sacks for losses of 48 yards.

Buffalo, despite the 92-yard run in the first quarter, ended the game with 103 yards rushing after figuring Miami’s 10 sacks and tackles for loss.

Cory Jones, a fifth-year senior, had the second 100-yard rushing day of his career. The first was against Syracuse University, another upstate New York program. Miami used seven different players as rushers throughout the game.

Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh completed 20 of 26 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He completed several plays over 40 yards to keep Buffalo spread out on defense. The Miami offensive line protected Raudabaugh, who was not sacked once in the game.

“The bottom line is that Miami made more plays than we did,” said Bulls second-year coach Turner Gill. “We didn’t execute at the end, and they did.”

The RedHawks ended Buffalo’s three-game conference winning streak.

“It hurts—It’s supposed to hurt. But our boys will come back winners,” said Gill.

“We knew we were facing a good football team today,” RedHawks coach Shane Montgomery said after the game. He had said in a press conference the week before the game that “all you have to do is look at the standings” to see that the Bulls were a good team.

The RedHawk defense stopped the Bulls 10 times behind the line of scrimmage.

“We’re not a big defensive unit,” said defensive end Joe Coniglio, “But we can run.”

Coniglio said the long Starks run to begin the game was “just something to get us going.” After the 92-yard scamper, Starks averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.

The RedHawks will now turn their focus to Akron and Ohio University, their path to a possible postseason.

Last year, Miami finished 2-6 in the MAC. This year the team is 4-1 with two games left, poised to make it to the MAC championship for the first time since 2004.

As Montgomery once said, “All you have to do is look at the standings.”

GAME RECAP


DOMINANT DEFENSE
Miami leads the MAC East in score differential in conference games. Through five games, Miami has outscored its opponents by an average of 7.4 points per game. Central Michigan leads the MAC West, outscoring opponents by 18.75 points per game.

Miami is the only team in the MAC that hasn’t allowed more than 110 points in conference games. The RedHawks have allowed 92 points through five games, an average of 18.4 points per game.

Of the teams with a winning record (better than .500) in conference games, Miami is the only one that has scored fewer than 164 points in those games. Miami has scored 129.

RedHawks Blank Zips

by Michael Truax
11/14/07

MIAMI BEATS AKRON 7 – ZIP
The Miami RedHawks moved one step closer to the MAC Championship Wednesday night by beating the University of Akron Zips, 7-0.

The game put the two Mid-American Conference teams on national television, Miami’s first wide coverage of the year.

The surprising defensive battle started early. Neither team reached midfield in the first quarter.

In the second, Akron drove to Miami’s 41-yard line, but stalled quickly and punted the ball away.

The RedHawks held a 10-play drive immediately following that, ending in an interception on the goal line. Miami quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw another interception to end the quarter.

The two offenses struggled in the first half. Akron only crossed midfield once during the game, and ended up punting from the Miami 41.

Miami drove the field on two consecutive possessions, only to end in two goal line interceptions thrown by Raudabaugh. The RedHawks’ first drive of the third quarter also ended in a red-zone interception.

Akron punted on its first nine full possessions.

Through three quarters of the game, Akron (4-7) and Miami (6-5) were scoreless. Both teams were unable to move the ball on offense consistently.

“On offense, we did not execute as well as we could have today. I tried to force some balls in there inside the red zone,” said Raudabaugh.

In the fourth quarter, Miami finally caught a break, when the defense returned a fumble for a touchdown. Junior linebacker Clayton Mullins forced Akron quarterback Carlton Jackson to fumble the ball, which was recovered by senior defensive right end Craig Mester for a touchdown.

“All the guys were saying that I have stone hands,” Mester said. “Generally, I would think about landing on it, but I just saw the end zone.”

Jackson was placed into the game for only that single play, temporarily replacing usual Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain.

"I thought we needed to change things up because we were not having success moving the ball. That decision bit us," said Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart.

Akron turned over four of their last five possessions, allowing two interceptions, losing one fumble, and turning over the ball on downs.

“Last year, that is a game that we do not win. It was not pretty. It was pretty by the defense. It was not pretty by the offense,” said Miami head coach Shane Montgomery. “With the discrepancy in turnovers, to think that our defense held them to zero points, our defense did a tremendous job.”

Akron (4-7) was held scoreless for the first time since Nov. 24, 2006 against the Western Michigan Broncos. The Zips lost that game 17-0.

LOW SCORES UNUSUAL?
The 7-0 victory was one of the lowest-scoring games in the history of Miami. The last time Miami won a game with a total of seven points between the teams was on Oct. 8, 1966, against Mid-American Conference opponent Kent State University. Miami won the game 7-0.

In 1981, Miami scored only a touchdown in a 7-3 victory against Cincinnati.

Miami has several scoreless tie games in its school history, including three meetings with Cincinnati. The very first meeting in 1888 ended a scoreless tie.

The Wednesday game was the lowest-scoring match in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly D I-A) this year so far.

DETROIT HAWK CITY?
Miami moved one step closer to the MAC Championship with the win over Akron. One University at Buffalo loss or Miami win would take Miami to the championship game in Detroit for the first time since 2004.

“We kept ourselves in first, control our own destiny, we just did whatever we had to do to win the game,” said Mullins.

Miami Falls Short in Detroit

by Michael Truax
12/01/07


Ford Field, the home of the Detroit Lions, was dominated by fans of
the Western Michigan Chippewas.

REDHAWKS FACE LONG TRIP HOME FROM MICHIGAN
The Miami RedHawks ended their season Saturday, after losing to the Central Michigan Chippewas 35-10 in the Mid-American Conference Championship.

Miami University (6-7) and Central Michigan University (8-5) battled in the Mid-American Conference Championship, after winning their respective divisions and tiebreakers. The Championship was at Ford Field in Detroit, home of the Detroit Lions of the NFL.

The RedHawks and Chippewas last met in September 2005, in Oxford. Central Michigan won the game, 38-37, on a 60-yard rush by then-freshman running back Ontario Sneed with 1:44 to play.

On Saturday, Miami allowed only seven points to Central Michigan in the first half, on a short pass by Chippewa quarterback Dan LeFevour capping a 63-yard drive.

LeFevour completed the half with one touchdown and two interceptions, for a total of 199 yards rushing and passing.

The RedHawks were able to stop him for the most part, however, by grabbing two interceptions in the second quarter.

But Miami’s defense worked, their offense struggled.

Miami was not able to capitalize on the turnovers in the first half, unable gain ground on offense against the statistically worst pass defense in the league.

Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh had difficulty finding receivers among the unexpectedly tenacious defense.

“They really didn't do anything we weren't expecting. We didn't execute,” said Raudabaugh.

Running backs Austin Sykes and Cory Jones were only able to gain 21 yards on 11 attempts, far below their season yards-per-carry.

The RedHawks, though they had 36 offensive plays, only gained 107 yards in the half.

In the second half, Miami’s defense came out swinging and stopping, holding Central Michigan to 10 yards total on its first two drives.

The RedHawks turned a bad Chippewa punt from the end zone and a good return by true freshman Jamal Rogers into a 38-yard field goal to get on the scoreboard with 6:23 to go in the third quarter.

Central Michigan responded on its next two drives with two touchdowns.

Miami was able respond, down 21-3, with a touchdown of their own—wide receiver Armand Robinson caught a 12-yard pass from Raudabaugh with 9:09 to go in the game. The score was the last for Miami this season.

Central Michigan widened the gap with two more rushing touchdowns, one each by the junior Sneed and LeFevour.

“We are very disappointed in our performance today. We did not play well enough to win,” said Miami coach Shane Montgomery.

The loss in Detroit leaves the RedHawks out in the cold. Winning the East division and making the championship game did not guarantee one of the three bowl spots offered to the MAC this season.

The RedHawks finished the season with six wins and seven losses, automatically disqualifying them from a post-season bowl game. To be eligible to play in a bowl game, a team must have a .500-or-better record.

“We are very disappointed in our performance today. We did not play well enough to win.,” said Miami coach Shane Montgomery.

Central Michigan is the first team to win back-to-back MAC Championships since Marshall University, no longer in the MAC, won three in a row in 1997-1999 under quarterback Chad Pennington.

“I told our team all year that the hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat,” said Central Michigan’s first-year coach Butch Jones.

I’VE GOT LeFEVOUR
Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour from Central Michigan won the MAC Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. In 2006 LeFevour was named MAC Freshman of the Year, as well as making the 2006 All-MAC first team.

In the MAC Championship, he ran for 170 yards before sacks and passed for 185, for three touchdowns total. LeFevour has 41 touchdowns on the season.

“You have to play hard, play fast, run downhill, and slow him down. We weren't doing that,” said Miami linebacker Clayton Mullins.

LeFevour had 1,004 yards rushing and 3,360 passing, including the MAC Championship. Vince Young, from the University of Texas, is the only other Division I-A player to have recorded 1,000 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing in a single season.

“I don't know if you can stop him altogether,” coach Montgomery said of LeFevour. “He's going to get his yards. He's big enough, he broke some tackles. I thought our defense probably defended him as well as we could through two and a half quarters.”

CHIPPEWAS “MOTOR” ON
The Chippewas will be invited to the Motor City Bowl, a position given to the MAC champion.

Central Michigan beat Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl in 2006, 31-14.

The Motor City Bowl is played at Ford Field, the same location as the MAC Championship. And, like the MAC Championship, Central Michigan will enjoy a more local crowd.

Purdue University, their opponent in 2007, is five hours away from Detroit, while Central Michigan is only 2.5 hours away.

Miami, like Purdue, is over four hours away.

MULLINS PERFORMS AGAIN
Miami linebacker Clayton Mullins, last week named All-MAC Defensive Player of the Year, looked visibly shaken by the loss in the post-game conference.

Mullins was named the Miami Valuable Player of the game, with 14 tackles and one quarterback hurry in the game.

After playing well for three quarters against a productive offense, “Our defense just wore down at the end after carrying us all day,” said Montgomery.

RedHawks fall to Nanooks

by Michael Truax
12/08/07

WILY WYLIE CONFUSES REDHAWKS
The Alaska Nanooks shocked the Miami RedHawks in Oxford Saturday night, defeating the #1-ranked team 3-0.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, now at 2-9-1, were significant underdogs at the Steve Cady Arena on Saturday, after losing 3-1 to Miami on Friday night.

Miami (14-2-0) was not able to take advantage of power plays and a sloppy Alaska performance in the first period. Alaska recorded their first shot on goal 16:37 into the game.

The Nanooks scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes after their first shot of the game, on a 5-on-3 after Alec Martinez was penalized for interference while trying to kill a power play.

Alaska had five penalties in the period, and Miami went into the game fifth in the nation in punishing on power plays, scoring on 24.3% of their chances this season. Miami, however, could not capitalize on the opportunities.

Miami would finish the game 0-7 in power play opportunities, with 13 power play shots on goal.

"It was definitely a frustrating game for us. They capitalized on their opportunities,” said Miami defenseman Mitch Ganzak. He said Miami had opportunities to score.

“To be ahead 1-0 after the first period was really a tribute to (Rogers),” said Nanooks coach Doc DelCastillo.

Saturday’s game was the first time this season the Nanooks have recorded a shutout. Alaska had allowed 3 or more goals in 10 of their last 11 games. It was Alaska’s first shutout since October 16, 2006.

“Obviously, goaltending was a big part of this game,” said Miami coach Enrico Blasi.

The Nanooks, led by senior goaltender Wylie Rogers, stopped all 32 of Miami’s shots on goal in the game.

“I think they did a good job of eliminating (passing) lanes for us, and we were pressing a little bit. When you get to the third period and things aren’t going your way, you start to press a bit,” said Blasi. “But give them credit, they did a great job and they deserved to win tonight.”

The last time the Nanooks visited Oxford, they split the two-game series with then-#1-ranked RedHawks, a feat they repeated on Saturday night. Monday’s national polls showed the RedHawks drop to second place in the nation behind the University of Michigan (16-2-0).

Miami will next weekend to #16 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) next weekend for a two-game series.

ACHIEVING GOALS
Junior Miami goaltender Jeff Zatkoff went into the game first in the nation with a 1.34 goals-against average. On Saturday, he gave up only two goals. One of the Nanooks’ goals was on an empty net during the final two minutes of the game.

Miami ended its streak of holding opponents to two goals or less in a game this season. Through 15 games, the RedHawks had only allowed as many as two goals.

SURPRISING STOPS
The RedHawks have scored three or more goals in 13 of 16 games this season. They are 1-2-0 when scoring two or fewer goals. Miami entered the game Saturday night as the highest scoring team in the nation, recording 4.6 goals per game, including 11-1 and 9-2 wins against Canisius and Northern Michigan.

FLATPUCK ROCK
The Miami warm-up song, “Heart of a Champion” by Nelly, samples the classic NBA on NBC theme song from the 1990s, written by John Tesh. Ironically (for a hockey game), the original song is called “Roundball Rock.”