Ryan Erb
Special to the Enquirer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In the Miami hockey team's first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1997, the RedHawks came up a little short at the Colorado Springs World Arena as the Denver Pioneers ended their season, 3-2, Friday night in the NCAA West Regional.

Goaltending was the name of the game as both goaltenders made sensational saves.

Miami's Matt Davis (19) and Denver's Luke Fulghum go after the puck as an official jumps out of the way. (AP photo)

"We had our chances early and so did (Denver)," said head coach Enrico Blasi. "Maybe if we get one or two of those shots past (Adam) Berkhoel it's a different game. The game was decided by goalies, both of them were the best players on the ice tonight."

A breakdown in the often-potent Miami power play resulted in the game's first goal when DU's Ryan Caldwell flipped in a shorthanded goal at 7:01 to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Freshman goalie Brandon Crawford-West turned aside the first two Denver shorty chances, but Caldwell finally beat the rookie netminder with a shot into the top shelf.

Miami had several scoring chances of its own in the first frame, but each time was stopped by Berkhoel, who made nine saves in the period.

The Pioneers put another marker on the scoreboard at 2:25 in the second period when defenseman Matt Laatsch ripped a shot inside the far post past Crawford-West for his fifth goal of the season.

Freshman Marty Guerin broke the ice for the RedHawks when a pass from senior Brian Sipotz opened him up for an easy breakaway goal at 7:04 in the second frame to the cut the deficit to 2-1. Crawford-West turned aside a Denver scoring chance in the Miami end, which helped create a breakout for the Red and White that was led by freshman Andy Nelson. However, it was Sipotz' pass to Guerin that led to the marker.

Denver's Ryan Caldwell, right, is greeted by teammates Dora Lukas and Matt Carle after Caldwell's goal during the first period. (AP photo)

The game would have been tied at 2-2 entering the third period, but a fantastic glove save by DU's Berkhoel stole another goal from the RedHawks. This time the would-be scorer for the RedHawks was senior Mike Kompon. Doing his part on the opposite end of the ice was Crawford-West, who stopped 18-of-19 shots to set a personal record for saves in a period.

Two consecutive penalties early in the third frame, including a five-minute major and game misconduct on Sipotz, resulted in a two-minute long 5-on-3 power play for the Pioneers. The RedHawks nearly killed off the entire two minutes of the second penalty until DU's Brett Skinner fired a shot into the back of the goal from the point, giving the Pioneers a 3-1 advantage at 6:35.

Stealing the show -- and possibly the game -- for the Pioneers was their senior netminder, Berkhoel. Despite only making 21 saves in the game, Berkhoel made at least four stops in the game that were wide open looks at the goal.

Miami narrowed the gap, 3-2, at 17:37 in the final period when a shot ricocheted off a DU defensemen into the back of the net on the power play. Credited with his sixth goal of the season was sophomore defenseman Matt Davis.

An empty net was what the Pioneers had to shoot for in the final minute, as the RedHawks pulled Crawford-West for the extra skater. The Red and White managed three shots on goal with the extra attacker but failed to light the lamp as it falls to 0-3 all-time in the NCAA tourney.

"This season was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to play with a player like Derek (Edwardson)," said Marty Guerin. "He is probably the best player I have ever played with and every single one of our seniors are the kind of players you want to mold yourself after."

NOTES: Senior Greg Hogeboom played in his 156th straight game, setting a school record. The senior forward has played in every single game during his four-year career.

• Miami wraps up its 2003-04 season with a 23-14-4 mark, its third 20-win season in the last four years.

GOAL SUMMARY

1ST PERIOD

DU 1 - Ryan Caldwell, 14 (Dora), sh, 7:01

2ND PERIOD

DU 2 - Matt Laatsch, 5 (O'Leary, Veideman), 2:25

MU 1 - Marty Guerin, 14 (Sipotz, Nelson), 7:04

3RD PERIOD

DU 3 - Brett Skinner, 7 (Carle, Gauthier),pp, 6:35

MU 2- Matt Davis, 6 (unassisted),pp, 17:37

SHOTS ON GOAL

Denver: 33

Miami: 23

POWER PLAYS

Denver: 1-4

Miami: 1-7

PENALTIES

Denver: 9-26

Miami: 6-23