Late goal lifts RedHawks over Spartans

Tommy Wingels scores twice for RedHawks in CCHA opener.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 2:11 AM Saturday, October 24, 2009

OXFORD — For about two seconds there was sheer confusion in front of the Michigan State net.

Miami University’s Carter Camper catching the puck with his hand. The puck falling to the ice. Camper turning in one direction. The puck squirting another direction. Michigan State players sliding in another direction. And then suddenly, the red light flashing.

Tommy Wingels’ second goal of the night with 1:58 left in the third period lifted the top-ranked RedHawks to a dramatic 2-1 victory in their Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener Friday, Oct. 23, at Steve Cady Arena.

“He’s our captain for a reason,” Miami coach Enrico Blasi said of Wingels. “He goes out and leaves everything on the ice.”

Wingels said Camper, who assisted on both goals, “provided a great screen” on the game-winning goal.

“We weren’t really happy about the way we played,” Wingels said, “but ... anytime you pick up a win in the conference it’s a pretty big deal.”

“We found a way,” said Blasi, whose team improved to 4-0-1. “We had to battle. Give Michigan State a lot of credit. They did a good job of keeping (the puck) to the outside.”

They also put pressure on goaltender Cody Reichard, who stopped a penalty shot by Andrew Rowe early in the first period.

“(Stopping) the penalty shot obviously was big,” Blasi said. “But he had two subtle saves that also were important — one late in the second period, one in the third.”

“Cody’s been playing great all year and we expect the same out of Conner (Knapp) tonight,” Wingels said of the RedHawks’ two sophomore goalies.

The RedHawks took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play 11:45 into the second period to take a 1-0 lead on Wingels’ first goal of the season.

Three and a half minutes later Derek Grant tied the score for MSU (3-2-0).