DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The Michigan boy stuck it to the University of Michigan hockey team Friday night, Nov. 21.

Miami sophomore Andy Miele, a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., tallied a pair of goals to power the Central Collegiate Hockey Association-leading RedHawks to a 2-0 victory at Steve Cady Arena.

"I just found out that's the first time we beat Michigan in this rink, so it's a great feeling," a smiling Miele said. "I actually grew up a Michigan State fan, so I hate Michigan a lot. To sweep Michigan would be awesome."

Miele found the back of the net in the second and third periods for Miami, and freshman goalie Cody Reichard totaled 20 saves to earn the shutout and thrill the boisterous crowd of 3,642.

The RedHawks improved to 7-3-3 overall and 7-2-2 (with one shootout win) in the CCHA. The Wolverines fell to 8-5, 5-4.

"It's really big," Reichard said. "It's always good to get a Friday win and get things going for Saturday so (fellow MU goalie) Connor (Knapp) and the guys can step up tomorrow and finish it off."

Michigan peppered Reichard in the first two minutes of the contest, only to have the rookie from Celina come up with several huge saves to set the tone for the hosts.

"I felt good," Reichard said. "Guys were blocking shots, forwards were in the zone backchecking, guys were getting pucks out ... we knew they were going to come out hard. We knew if we could weather the storm, we would be all right."

Justin Vaive and Chris Wideman assisted Miele's first goal with 13:07 left in the second stanza, while Gary Steffes and Wideman picked up assists on the second tally with 18:08 showing in the third period.

The first score was a classic wrap-around goal, with Miele getting the puck behind the Michigan net and slipping it past Wolverines goalie Billy Sauer (25 saves).

"I haven't had a goal like that since I think Mini-Mites," Miele said. "So it was pretty fun to score a goal like that again."

His insurance goal came on a deflection off a Steffes shot. MU coach Enrico Blasi praised the Vaive-Miele-Steffes line and said Miele's recent move to center is paying off.

"Miele played center growing up," Blasi said. "Sometimes when you revert back to being a kid ... he just felt very comfortable there all week. That line seemed to click a little bit."

The Wolverines had a goal disallowed in the final 27 seconds, a fitting ending to a frustrating night.

"They're a good hockey team, and they don't give you much," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I thought our penalties were needless penalties. We were a nonfactor (on the power play)."

The CCHA rivals will square off again at 7:05 p.m. today at Cady Arena.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.