2008 Woodie Awards
Miami's pressure leads to a weekend sweep
Matt Gamber
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Sports
Irish coach Jeff Jackson blamed himself for a pair of home losses to No. 10 Miami as No. 8 Notre Dame (2-3-0, 0-2-0-0 CCHA) opened its conference slate by falling 2-0 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday.
"We weren't prepared for their pressure, whether it was their penalty kill, their forecheck, or their defensive zone coverage, and that's my fault," Jackson said. "I've got to make sure our guys are ready for that kind of an opponent."
But a surprising Miami game plan shouldn't have stifled the Irish the way it did, Jackson said.
"We need to work harder at competing - winning more battles, more one-on-one races for the puck - and that applies to our power play, 5-on-5, penalty kill, everything," he said. "I thought [Miami] played with a lot of physicality, and with us back on our heels, that's how we're supposed to play at home, not the visiting team."
The RedHawks (3-1-2, 3-0-1-0) scored the first three goals of the series before Irish sophomore defenseman Ian Cole got his team on the board with under five minutes to play in Saturday's second period.
Sophomore left wing Calle Ridderwall and freshman right wing Billy Maday worked the puck loose near the Miami net and eventually found Cole, who put it home from the left point for his second goal of the season and a 1-1 tie.
"Offensive zone, broken play - it came from guys battling," Cole said. "I got it up top, had some time, and [Miami] packs it in pretty tight around the goal, so I waited, waited, waited, found a lane, shot it, and it went in."
Miami would regain the lead on a power-play goal - the RedHawks' second of the night - with three minutes to play in the second period, and the visitors made it 3-1 less than two minutes later with an even-strength goal.
Irish senior center Christian Hanson capped the scoring with under two minutes to go on a play started by freshman defenseman Sean Lorenz. With Notre Dame senior goaltender Jordan Pearce pulled, Lorenz gave the puck to senior captain Erik Condra, who found Hanson alone in the slot.
"We weren't prepared for their pressure, whether it was their penalty kill, their forecheck, or their defensive zone coverage, and that's my fault," Jackson said. "I've got to make sure our guys are ready for that kind of an opponent."
But a surprising Miami game plan shouldn't have stifled the Irish the way it did, Jackson said.
"We need to work harder at competing - winning more battles, more one-on-one races for the puck - and that applies to our power play, 5-on-5, penalty kill, everything," he said. "I thought [Miami] played with a lot of physicality, and with us back on our heels, that's how we're supposed to play at home, not the visiting team."
The RedHawks (3-1-2, 3-0-1-0) scored the first three goals of the series before Irish sophomore defenseman Ian Cole got his team on the board with under five minutes to play in Saturday's second period.
Sophomore left wing Calle Ridderwall and freshman right wing Billy Maday worked the puck loose near the Miami net and eventually found Cole, who put it home from the left point for his second goal of the season and a 1-1 tie.
"Offensive zone, broken play - it came from guys battling," Cole said. "I got it up top, had some time, and [Miami] packs it in pretty tight around the goal, so I waited, waited, waited, found a lane, shot it, and it went in."
Miami would regain the lead on a power-play goal - the RedHawks' second of the night - with three minutes to play in the second period, and the visitors made it 3-1 less than two minutes later with an even-strength goal.
Irish senior center Christian Hanson capped the scoring with under two minutes to go on a play started by freshman defenseman Sean Lorenz. With Notre Dame senior goaltender Jordan Pearce pulled, Lorenz gave the puck to senior captain Erik Condra, who found Hanson alone in the slot.