Sophomore Greg Hogeboom lifted Miami over Merrimack, 3-2, by scoring his second goal of the season with 2:20 remaining in the contest. The RedHawks, on their home ice, Goggin Ice Arena, outshot their opponent for the second straight night, 47-25.
After winning the night before, 7-5, Merrimack struck first in the opening period with a power-play goal from junior Anthony Aquino 90 seconds into the game.
Miami responded to the one-goal deficit with two unanswered goals of its own, both off the stick of senior Mike Glumac. Senior Jason Deskins garnered his 99th career point when he found Glumac open for the RedHawks’ first goal at 14:05 in the first period. Glumac gave the RedHawks a 2-1 lead just 3:34 later with his second goal of the game.
Miami retained the 2-1 advantage into the locker room and up to the 6:55 mark in the second period when Merrimack junior Ryan Cordeiro netted a power-play goal to knot the game. Merrimack nearly took a 3-2 lead at the end of the second period if not for two saves by the Miami goalkeeper, junior David Burleigh, on a Warrior breakaway and the ensuing shot off the rebound.
Unlike the first two periods, both teams struggled in the third offensively, combining to shoot just 21 times. The trend continued through much of the period until Hogeboom found the back of the net for the game-winner at 17:40. Senior Matt Chandler and sophomore A.J. Kratofil helped out on the game-winner by recording their first assists of the season.
The winning goalkeeper, Burleigh, made 23 saves in the contest, while his counterpart from Merrimack, junior Joe Exter, recorded 44 saves in the defeat.
The dramatic victory improves the RedHawks record to 1-1-0 overall on the season and evens Merrimacks record at 1-1-0. The Miami hockey team heads on a four-game road trip in the next two weeks, traveling to Clarkson on Oct. 19-20, and opening its CCHA action in Ferris State on Oct. 26-27.
