Freshman Jay Campbell made 29 saves, Curtis McKenzie scored his sixth goal of the season, and No. 5 Miami University held on to defeat Ohio State 1-0 to advance to the championship game of the Three Rivers Classic.
Williams was spectacular early for the 12-3-4 Redhawks and he had to be. Ohio State dominated play in the first period and controlled much of the second period. Yet, Williams was there, making all 29 saves for his second shutout of the season. In his last eight starts, the freshman from McLean, Virginia has allowed two goals or less.
Friday night Williams was both good and lucky.
Three minutes into the first period, the Buckeyes had a goal waved off. Tanner Fritz fed Chad Niddery in front of the net. Niddery’s shot was partially saved by Williams but slid under the goaltender’s pads and past the line. Unfortunately, the whistle blew just as the puck was going into the net. The referees had a brief meeting and upheld their no-goal decision.
“We made plays, controlled the puck. They come out, get the quick one in the third and momentum just shifted,” said assistant coach Steve Rohlik. He is serving as head coach for this tournament while Mark Osiecki assists the US team in World Juniors. “If you were a goaltending fan, you walked out of that game going ‘holy moly’.”
Williams made some dynamite saves on the Buckeyes including denying a breakaway opportunity by Ryan Dzingel midway through the second period. Buckeye goaltender Brady Hjelle was just as good for all but one moment in the game.
Just 14 seconds into the third period, Jimmy Mullin drove down the right side, circled behind the cage, and tried to tuck a wraparound past Hjelle. The puck kicked out to Curtis McKenzie who was able to bury it past Hjelle for the game’s only goal. It was the sixth goal of the season for the former sixth round pick of the Dallas Stars, assisted by a former fourth round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mullin and McKenzie were expected to pick up the scoring for Riley Barber who is playing for team USA in the World Juniors.
“Jimmy Mullin made a nice play using his speed to get around the net and get the puck to the front of the net. The puck sat in the crease and I like the greasy ones.” (Curtis McKenzie)
The goal also changed the momentum of the game completely. From there, the Redhawks outshot the Buckeyes 12-6 in the final period and drew two powerplays. The Redhawks kept the pressure on Ohio State and held off a last minute charge to advance into the championship round.
Ohio State will face their football rival, Penn State while Miami will play RMU tomorrow night. The last time the Redhawks played the Colonials was in 2009. Miami was the top team in the country and they were swept out of Pittsburgh. Head coach Enrico Blasi remembers those games vividly and vows that Robert Morris will be a tough opponent once again.
“They’re going to be ready. Derek’s a good coach…we know they’ll be ready and we’ll put together a game plan for them.”
Photo Courtesy of Miami University
