Around the Country - 10/22

Each week, the WCHA Blog will take a look at action from around the nation that doesn't involve WCHA teams.

On Friday night, New Hampshire scored a key early season victory over Boston University at Agganis Arena by a 4-1 score. UNH's top line, which could be one of the best in the nation, torched the Terriers for three goals and three assists. Freshman James vanRiemsdyk and seniors Mike Radja and Matt Fornataro had a goal and an assist each for the Wildcats. Senior Kevin Regan made 30 saves for UNH. BU is still struggling to replace John Curry between the pipes, as they have yielded 11 goals in three games, including seven to Robert Morris (3) and Alaska Anchorage (4).

One week after getting worked over in Grand Forks by the Fighting Sioux, the defending NCAA champion Michigan State Spartans returned to East Lansing and swept Colgate by scores of 6-3 and 2-1. MSU got out to a 3-0 lead on Friday night and never looked back. The top line of Tim Kennedy / Justin Abdelkader / Tim Crowder combined for just a goal and an assists, but the second line of Matt Schepke (2 G, 1 A), Bryan Lerg (0 G, 4 A), Dustin Gazley (2 G, 0 A) did the damage for Sparty. The Spartan's top line accounted for both goals on Saturday night in MSU's win, as Kennedy and Abdelkader accounted for both MSU goals. Jeff Lerg was in net both nights for the Spartans.

Miami continued their strong early season play, as they dominated in-state rival Ohio State, winning both games of the home and home series by a 5-1 score. The Redhawks were without 2006-07 leading scorer Nathan Davis, who is out with a separated shoulder. On Friday night, junior Justin Mercier had two goals for Miami, while Carter Camper and Alex Martinez each had two helpers. Freshmen Tommy Wingels continued his hot start on Saturday, scoring two goals in the victory. He now has five points in his first four games. The Redhawks are scoring plenty of goals without Davis or fellow senior Ryan Jones, who had 48 points last season and just one so far this year, contributing much, which is a good sign for the boys from Oxford. Junior Jeff Zatkoff continued his strong play; he is 4-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .960 save percentage.

Notes: Michigan got off to a good start in CCHA play, sweeping their series at Northern Michigan. Seniors Kevin Porter (three goals) and Chad Kolarik (one goal, three assists) were key in both wins for the Wolverines ... Boston College visited Vermont on Sunday, and the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie. The Eagles outshot the Wildcats by a 33-25 margin. Ben Smith and Brian Gibbons each had a goal and an assist for BC, while the same stats applied to Vermont's Peter Lenes and Dean Strong.