DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — On the night of March 10 the Miami University hockey players thought they had blown it.

They had no idea that a week later they would be celebrating their second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. How could they have known?

Following their early exit from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs, thanks to a second consecutive 2-1 loss to Lake Superior State in the second round, it seemed that nothing short of a miracle would allow the RedHawks to keep playing.

Miami will face the University of New Hampshire Saturday at 1 p.m.

"After the game it didn't look like we had much of a chance," Miami sophomore goaltender Jeff Zatkoff said.

"Yeah, no question," Miami senior forward Matt Christie remembered. "We were even told about 20 minutes after we got off the ice that there was no chance."

Some miracles, however, arrive in bits and pieces.

This one started with a slight fragment of hope.

"I didn't want to get my hopes up," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said, "but I knew there were some scenarios out there. But I didn't want to speculate at that time or say anything. We needed time for the games to be played and for the scenarios to work themselves out."

A few "scenarios" began inching Miami's way that very night.

"Later that night we all went out for something to eat," Christie said. "The season's done, it's spring break, you're on your own.

"Then the coaches tell us they've crunched some numbers, and that some things had happened that night (in other conference tournaments) and there was still a chance."

Zatkoff remembered that "Jonesie (Miami junior captain Ryan Jones) gave us a call and said don't go anywhere, that we actually had a good chance if certain teams won next weekend."

By the following Saturday night, Miami still was in the running for the NCAA Tournament. One key game for the RedHawks was Clarkson against Quinnipiac. If Clarkson won, it would be time to celebrate.

But Clarkson fell behind and trailed 2-0 going into the third period.

"Some of us spent Friday and Saturday nights at Nate's place," Zatkoff said, referring to Miami junior assistant captain Nathan Davis. "It was definitely a roller-coaster ride. In the end, it was exciting because it turned out in our favor."

"It was nerve-wracking," Christie said. "We were all watching the Clarkson game. All hope was being sort of whittled away. Then Clarkson came back to tie the game, then they got a third goal, and when they got that empty-netter to win it (4-2), we knew we were going."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.