RedHawks down Bulldogs, 2-1

By Matt Mackinder/At The CCHA Tournament

DETROIT - Jarod Palmer's goal with 4:04 to go in the third period proved to be the game-winner as Miami defeated Ferris State, 2-1, in the third place game this afternoon at Joe Louis Arena.

Ferris generated just 13 shots on Miami goalie Connor Knapp, including just two over the final 20 minutes.

Knapp, playing in place of CCHA Player of the Year Cody Reichard, allowed just a Casey Haines power-play goal at 14:49 of the second period. The goal was initially waved off, but after a lengthy review, it was called a good goal.

"I wasn't trying to pass to Casey," laughed Blair Riley, who assisted on the goal.

"The puck hit my stick and then something else - my shin pad, something, I don't know," said Haines. "Then I spun around looking for it and it was in the net."

The RedHawks opened the scoring 4:44 of the middle period when freshman Steve Mason, a native of the Netherlands, crashed the net after a Chris Wideman shot rang off the crossbar and knocked in his first career goal.

That goal, too, was reviewed and ultimately ruled a goal.

On Palmer's goal, he faked a slap shot, walked between the circles and wired the puck past Ferris State goalie Pat Nagle.

Nagle went to the bench with just under 90 seconds to go, but the Bulldogs failed to get the equalizer.
When the seeds are announced tomorrow for the NCAA Tournament, Miami is expected to be a high seed, perhaps the No. 1 overall seed.

"If we get the No. 1 seed, this has been a very successful season," said Miami coach Enrico Blasi, who also wouldn't say who starts in goal next weekend. "We have two No. 1 goaltenders and that's a good problem to have. They'll both battle this week during practice and as a staff, we'll make our decision at game time."

As for FSU, qualifying for the NCAA round of 16 may need the Bulldogs hoping a few teams lose tonight in other conference tournaments.

"I think right now, we need Cornell and Boston College to lose," said Ferris State coach Bob Daniels. "I think we have a 50-50 chance of getting in, so we'll see."

The selcection show starts tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2.

Photos by Karl Henkel/MiCHO