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MU icer waits whole season for first goal, then gets two

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By Pete Conrad Updated 11:52 AM Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Miami University’s Matt Tomassoni said there never was any doubt in his mind that he would score a goal.

The sophomore defenseman played in 32 games last year and not once did he punch the puck into the net, though he did have five assists, including one in Miami’s 4-1 win over Bemidji State in the national semifinals.

“We always joked around about it,” Tomassoni said. “I knew it eventually would come.”

That first collegiate goal came last Friday, Oct. 16, in the RedHawks’ 6-3 victory at New Hampshire. After waiting more than a year for his first goal, he waited only 24 hours for his second. Tomassoni scored again in Saturday’s 5-5 double-overtime tie.

“I was not expecting that,” he said. “It was a shock, especially so early in the game (less than 2 minutes after the puck dropped).”

Saturday’s contest was a shock in more ways than one. New Hampshire erupted for five goals in a span of slightly less than 8 minutes in the second period to take a 5-3 lead. But the top-ranked RedHawks were able to rally for a tie to remain undefeated at 3-0-1.

“That shows a lot of character on our team, what our team is about,” Tomassoni said.

The RedHawks will open play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association this weekend at home when they face Michigan State at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 8:05 p.m. Saturday.

Last season, the Spartans struggled to a final record of 7-17-4. This year they’re 3-1.

“Michigan State is a much-improved team over last year,” Tomassoni said, “and we’re excited about getting conference play under way.”

OT drought broken

The women’s soccer team’s 1-0 double-overtime victory at Ohio last Sunday was the RedHawks’ first extra-period win since 2006. Miami had gone winless in its previous 13 overtime matches.

The winning goal was headed in by junior forward Sara Lund, tied for third in the Mid-American Conference with five goals.

Miami (8-6-1, 4-3-1 Mid-American Conference) will play its next two contests at home, 3 p.m. Friday against Western Michigan and 1 p.m. Sunday against Northern Illinois.

Leahy a double leader

Senior Maria Leahy led the volleyball team in kills and digs in both of its victories last week. She totaled 29 kills and 29 digs.

Miami (11-9, 6-2 MAC) will play Friday at Toledo.

Senior setter Andrea Atteberry needs eight digs to reach 900 for her career. Melissa Zenz is Miami’s all-time leader with 1,481 digs. Stephanie Otten is the leader among non-libero players with 1,467.

Still in the running

Although the field hockey team has lost four of its last five matches, the RedHawks still are in the hunt for the MAC title. Miami (9-8-0, 5-2-0 MAC) trails first-place Kent State by just one match, and the two teams will hook up in Oct. 31 in Kent.

Senior back Katie Brightwell is tied for first in the MAC in assists with 10.

Coming up

Cross country: The women, ranked No. 8 in the Great Lakes Region, and men will run Oct. 31 in the MAC Championship in Athens.

Men’s golf: The RedHawks will play Nov. 1-2 in the Renaissance Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. They will be led by junior Nathan Sutherland, who notched his first collegiate victory Oct. 13 at the Bearcat Invitational.

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