November 23, 1996

Miami Pulls Out Last-Second 4-3 Win Over Visiting Notre Dame

Oxford, Ohio (11/23/96) – Dustin Whitecotton’s wraparoundgoal with 40 seconds remaining lifted Miami University to a 4-3 victoryover visiting Notre Darne in Central Collegiate Hockey Associationaction Saturday at Goggin Ice Arena.

Notre Dame (4-6-1, 3-4-1 CCHA) remains tied with Western Michigan forfifth in the CCHA standings but sllpped three points behind fourth-placeLake Superior State, which downed Ferris State on Saturday to improve to5-2-0 in league play. The Irish will have a chance to close that gap onTuesday, Nov. 25 when they host the Lakers at the Joyce Center.

Miami (9-3-0, 7-1-0 CCHA) moved past Michigan, which played anon-conference series vs. Brown this weekend, into second place in theCCHA while Michigan State (8-2-0) maintained its spot atop the leagueafter winning Saturday at Bowling Green.

Notre Dame — which continued to struggle on the powerplay (convertingjust once in seven chances) — had tied the game early in the thirdperiod on a goal by sophomore Brian Urick, setting the stage forWhitecotton’s dramatic game-winning goal. Whitecotton received the puckafter passes from Dan Boyle and Marc Tropper and skated behind the netbefore tucking a shot inside the right post. Notre Darne juniorgoaltender Matt Elsler appeared to cover the puck but White was ruled tohave poked in the rebound, leading to a somewhat controversial ending inthe ever-competitive CCHA.

Notre Dame jumped ahead on a powerplay goal five minutes into thegame, as freshman Joe Dusbabek scored his team-leading sixth goal of theseason, putting back a shot from the left circle after Miami goalie AdamLord had saved a shot by Urick in the slot.

Miami tied the game five mlnutes later, on a 5-on-3 powerplaysltuation, as Tropper redirected a pass from the point by Josh Harrold.The Redskins then surged ahead at the 15:22 mark of the opening periodwhen Vitali Andreev gathered in a loose puck at the left circle andskated towards the net before sending a shot under the blocker ofEisler.

The Irish tied the game early in the second period, as senior TerryLorenz sent home a centering pass from behlnd the net by classmate TimHarberts (4:39). A minute later, Notre Dame had a two-man advantage for1:48 but could not convert, mustering just one shot during that stretchas the game remained tied.

The Redskins went back in front late in the second period, asCopeland put back his own shot from close range (16:58) for the secondRedskins powerplay goal of the game.

Miami enjoyed a 14-3 shot advantage durlng the second period, withEisler saving 21 of 24 shots In the first 40 minutes to keep the Irishclose heading into the final period.

Urick scored his third goal of the weekend (also scoring twice in a5-3 win Friday at Bowling Green) after taking a drop pass from juniorLyle Andrusiak and sending home a low shot from the top of the rightcircle at the 3:55 mark of the third period.

NOTRE DAME     1    1    1    -    3MIAMI          2    1    1    -    41st - 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 usplay 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.”