Miami’s top goal scorer, Greg Hogeboom, scored three goals and linemate Mike Kompon assisted all three tallies to lead the RedHawks to a 4-2 win over Notre Dame in the opening game of the CCHA playoffs on Friday night.
The victory improves Miami to 21-15-3 on the season while the Irish are now 15-16-6.
Defense dominated the game through two periods with both teams going on offense in the third period.
Miami took the early advantage in the first period with the help of a penalty to Notre Dame’s Connor Dunlop just 35 seconds into the game.
The RedHawks failed to score with the man advantage, but peppered Irish goaltender Morgan Cey with eight shots in the two-minute span. Cey made highlight reel saves on Greg Hogeboom on a rebound and then stopped defenseman Andy Green from the high slot during the flurry.
While Cey stopped the first eight shots, the ninth Miami shot of the game found the net. Freshman center Chris Michael fired a blast from the top of the left wing circle that beat Cey high over his glove at 4:56. The goal was his eighth of the season. For the period, Miami outshot the Irish 15-6.
In the scoreless second period, Notre Dame’s defense tightened, not giving up a shot over the first 10:02 of the period. Miami finally broke through with two shots on a power play and finished the period, outshooting the Irish 11-8.
The third period was all offense as the teams traded five goals. Notre Dame tied the game just 39 seconds into the third period when Aaron Gill wheeled through the slot and whipped a wrist shot past Miami’s David Burleigh for his 11th goal of the season.
With the score tied 1-1, Hogeboom took over for the RedHawks. The CCHA’s top power-play goal scorer got his first of the night with the man-advantage. The senior right wing planted himself in front the Irish goal and deflected Kompon’s shot from the right point over Cey at 8:05 of the period. The goal was his 22nd of the year and 17th on the power play
The Irish answered right back, scoring just 14 seconds later at 8:19. Cory McLean took a feed from center Matt Amado just over the Miami blueline and cut to the goal, firing a shot between Burleigh and the post for his 10th goal of the year.
The RedHawks went ahead to stay at 11:07. Hogeboom got behind the Irish defense and Kompon got him the puck at center ice. He moved down the right wing boards and slid a wristshot low to the ice past Cey from the face-off dot. The goal was his 23rd of the year.
Hogeboom closed the scoring at 15:25 when Kompon found him in the high slot and one-timed a shot over Cey’s glove for the hat trick and his 24th goal of the year.
Notre Dame head coach Dave Poulin pulled Morgan Cey with 2:25 left in the game in favor of a sixth attacker, but the Irish failed to score.
For the game, Notre Dame was outshot 37-26. Cey finished with 33 saves on the night. Burleigh made 24 saves in picking up the win for Miami.
Game two is set for 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Miami’s Goggin Arena.
