November 23, 1996
Miami Pulls Out Last-Second 4-3 Win Over Visiting Notre Dame
Oxford, Ohio (11/23/96) - Dustin Whitecotton's wraparound
goal with 40 seconds remaining lifted Miami University to a 4-3 victory
over visiting Notre Darne in Central Collegiate Hockey Association
action Saturday at Goggin Ice Arena.
Notre Dame (4-6-1, 3-4-1 CCHA) remains tied with Western Michigan for
fifth in the CCHA standings but sllpped three points behind fourth-place
Lake Superior State, which downed Ferris State on Saturday to improve to
5-2-0 in league play. The Irish will have a chance to close that gap on
Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they host the Lakers at the Joyce Center.
Miami (9-3-0, 7-1-0 CCHA) moved past Michigan, which played a
non-conference series vs. Brown this weekend, into second place in the
CCHA while Michigan State (8-2-0) maintained its spot atop the league
after winning Saturday at Bowling Green.
Notre Dame -- which continued to struggle on the powerplay (converting
just once in seven chances) -- had tied the game early in the third
period on a goal by sophomore Brian Urick, setting the stage for
Whitecotton's dramatic game-winning goal. Whitecotton received the puck
after passes from Dan Boyle and Marc Tropper and skated behind the net
before tucking a shot inside the right post. Notre Darne junior
goaltender Matt Elsler appeared to cover the puck but White was ruled to
have poked in the rebound, leading to a somewhat controversial ending in
the ever-competitive CCHA.
Notre Dame jumped ahead on a powerplay goal five minutes into the
game, as freshman Joe Dusbabek scored his team-leading sixth goal of the
season, putting back a shot from the left circle after Miami goalie Adam
Lord had saved a shot by Urick in the slot.
Miami tied the game five mlnutes later, on a 5-on-3 powerplay
sltuation, as Tropper redirected a pass from the point by Josh Harrold.
The Redskins then surged ahead at the 15:22 mark of the opening period
when Vitali Andreev gathered in a loose puck at the left circle and
skated towards the net before sending a shot under the blocker of
Eisler.
The Irish tied the game early in the second period, as senior Terry
Lorenz sent home a centering pass from behlnd the net by classmate Tim
Harberts (4:39). A minute later, Notre Dame had a two-man advantage for
1:48 but could not convert, mustering just one shot during that stretch
as the game remained tied.
The Redskins went back in front late in the second period, as
Copeland put back his own shot from close range (16:58) for the second
Redskins powerplay goal of the game.
Miami enjoyed a 14-3 shot advantage durlng the second period, with
Eisler saving 21 of 24 shots In the first 40 minutes to keep the Irish
close heading into the final period.
Urick scored his third goal of the weekend (also scoring twice in a
5-3 win Friday at Bowling Green) after taking a drop pass from junior
Lyle Andrusiak and sending home a low shot from the top of the right
circle at the 3:55 mark of the third period.
NOTRE DAME 1 1 1 - 3
MIAMI 2 1 1 - 4
1st - 1. ND - Dusbabek (Urick, Cotnoir) PP, 5:00;
1. UM - Tropper (Harrold, Boyle) PP 5-3, 9:51;
2. UM - Andreev (Buzzell) 15:22.
2nd - 2. ND - Lorenz (Harberts) 4:39;
3. UM - Copeland (Robitaille, Tropper) 16:58.
3rd - 3. ND - Urick (Andruslak) 3:55;
4. UM - Whitecotton (Boyle, Tropper) 19 :20.
Shots: ND 25, UM 32.
Saves: ND (Eisler) 28, UM (Lord) 22.
Powerplay: ND 1-of-7, UM 2-of-6.
Penalties: ND 8-for-24, UM 8-for-16.
NOTRE DAME COACH DAME POULIN: "It was frustrating to lose this way but encouraging to see us
play thls well on consecutlve nlghts on the road, against two very good teams. We are glad to be
playing again on Tuesday, as the players are eager to get back on the ice."
