Hockey splits with Miami

Many Hoosier hockey enthusiasts thought they would have a clearer picture of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League standings after the weekend's two-game series between Miami of Ohio and IU. \nBut the only thing anyone could really determine from the weekend is that the two teams are bitter rivals, well-matched and anxious for a third game.\nAfter skating past Miami without much difficulty Friday, the Hoosiers found themselves in an all-out war Saturday, which ended with four players suspended and a last-minute Miami lead and victory.\n"In one word, it's frustrating," assistant coach and general manager Alex Kyrias said of Saturday's performance.\nThe Hoosiers dominated the ClubHawks early Friday. IU owned the game's intensity and racked up a goal in the first period and another early in the second.\nMiami's only goal in the contest came on a penalty shot with 3:57 remaining in the second period. ClubHawk Jeff Lorenz fired a shot into the upper-left corner of the net, just out of reach of Hoosier senior goalie Justin Wojtowicz. While the goal momentarily shifted control of the match, the Hoosiers regained their composure and won the contest 3-1.\n"I think we came out strong in the first period," junior forward and assistant captain Bryan Grant said. "I think we're much more talented than they are, and luckily we played a good game."\nThe Hoosiers entered Saturday's contest with a high confidence level. In a game that saw five lead changes, Miami scored two goals in the final three minutes of the third to take home a 6-5 victory.\nWith 7:12 remaining in the second period, Miami junior forward Matt Mole took an after-whistle slash at Wojtowicz. Grant intervened, a fight broke out and four players were ejected from the contest, including Grant and junior forward Matt Voll.\n"I felt the turning point was when Grant was ejected," coach Rich Holdeman said. "I knew Miami wasn't going to quit, and I felt like, at the end, they finally got over the hump and relaxed."\nJunior forward and assistant captain Brandon Phillips fired a goal past Miami with 4:50 left in the final period to give the Hoosiers a 5-4 lead, but the ClubHawks fought back to snap the Hoosiers' eight-game undefeated streak and win the contest.\nIU travels to Michigan State for two games Friday and Saturday. The team will be back in Bloomington Feb. 2 and 3 for the season's final conference series against Michigan.\n"Hopefully, the lesson we learned (against Miami) is that we've got to close out games," Holdeman said. "We have to wait for games to be over before we let down our guard"