DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The senior class of Miami University's hockey team has been busy setting records this season.

Matt Christie of Ajax, Ontario, Marty Guerin of Lansing, Mich., and Joe Cooper and Geoff Smith, both of Toronto, set the school record for most victories by one class with 85 and have become the first Miami class to earn three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, instead of setting records, the four seniors are setting their sights on a new goal as they prepare for Saturday's first-round game against New Hampshire in the NCAA Tournament's Northeast Regional.

"The senior class has been here three times," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. "Now it is time to take that next step."

That next step, simply put, would be Miami's first NCAA victory.

"It's always nice to go, but at this point we've already established ourselves as a team that can go to the tournament," Guerin said. "Now we have to establish ourselves as a team that can win in the tournament and go further down the road."

"We expect to go to the tournament," Christie agreed. "We expect for this to happen. Now we've got to get that win."

Overall, Miami is 0-4 in its previous NCAA appearances and has been outscored 15-5.

The RedHawks claimed their first NCAA berth in 1993 under coach George Gwozdecky. They lost in the West Regional semifinal to Wisconsin 3-1.

Next was the 1997 tournament. Miami, coached by Mark Mazzoleni, fell in the opening round to Cornell 4-2.

Blasi made his first appearance with the 2004 team, which lost 3-2 to Denver. One of Miami's goals was scored by Guerin.

Last year the RedHawks fell 5-0 to Boston College.

"It was one of those games where you're right there, and then suddenly you have no chance," Christie recalled of the game in which Boston College scored two empty-net goals in the third period after Miami, desperate to get back into the game, pulled goaltender Charlie Effinger.

Now the RedHawks will collide with fifth-ranked New Hampshire, the Northeast Regional's No. 1 seed.

"They're kind of a small, fast team, as most teams are out in the East, and they thrive on turnovers," Guerin said of the Wildcats. "We'll have to be physical and limit our turnovers."

"Obviously it'll be a hostile environment," Christie said, referring to the fact that the game will be played in Manchester, N.H., "but we feel we have the weapons here and the right attitude going in."

In addition to the 85 wins over the last four seasons, Miami's four seniors have combined for a whopping 314 points in their careers. Christie has 120, followed by Guerin (115), Smith (56) and Cooper (23).

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