In Week 12, the Sun Devils came out on top and won the game in a fierce match-up; the Miami RedHawks lost a heart-wrenching match of 3-4 to the No. 12-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils. The contest that took place on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio, was a definitive moment for the Miami RedHawks, whose hopes were set on breaking their abysmal winless streak to conference play. Even in spite of a great third-period performance, the team’s defense got outmatched by a relentless Sun Devil offensive and lack of resoluteness, leaving the local crowd dazzled.

The Red Hawks stepped into the match with the energy from their previous game. This time, they played hard and lost 1-4 to Arizona State a week ago. There, Spencer Cox’s equalizer came only seconds away from the final whistle. The images of the fans and the players were definitely about the mutual hope for improved changes at the very beginning of the game. However, not long after, the Sun Devils used the power phenomenon to {}} and Ryan Dahl dial, only seven minutes into the first third of the game. Kyle, the biggest point extractor for the team, with an assistant by Ethan (Knight) Monks, made the first keeping by the team. They would score one more.

The RedHawks tried to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses by using physicality and speed, which resulted in the control of the ball for the majority of time in the first period of the game A goal by Dylan Moulton, Senior defenseman, from the left wing, scored and the touch down of the game lead ASU netminder, who was played by a defender. In the meantime, their energy went down by the wayside, however, defensive mistakes that were mostly costly.

The second period was the time when the Sun Devils managed to increase their lead to 3-1 on a shorthanded breakaway, which was started when Bennett Schimek stole the puck when Miami was not in control and scored a goal with a backhand deke. The RedHawks’ misery was compounded by a five-minute major penalty for a boarding call, which in turn sent ASU a prolonged power play. However, Miami’s penalty kill, thought to be among the country’s worst, met the challenge by blocking shots and clearing lanes while staying close to ASU.

An early shining hour occurred in the third era when Colby Ambrosio, a freshman, scored a rebound from a point shot by Max Dukovac to reach the level of 3-2. The arena was covered by fans who cheered as the RedHawks were hunting for the balance point, outshooting ASU 12-5 in the third period. With six minutes passed, Cox kicked in a pass from the middle of the rink to Jaden Grant and tied the game at 3-3, which sent the home fans into a frenzy.

But the euphoria was short-lived. ASU’s Cruz Lucius displayed quick hands with a high slot wrist shot that beat Dahlmeir, taking the command 4-3 again just 90 seconds later. Miami pulled Dahlmeir and sent an extra attacker in the last minute, but a chilling, frantic atmosphere around the ASU net only brought no wonder. The final horn had the RedHawks feeling awful, now going 3-21-2 overall and 0-16-0 in the conference.

Postgame, coach Chris Bergeron expressed regret concerning the squandered chances. “We did not give up without a fight, but penalties were our killer tonight,” he noted. “You are facing an opponent like ASU and you give them free chances, they will do nothing but make you pay. We did—and they made us pay.” A more optimistic Spencer Cox, the forward man who has scored his second professional goal in as many games, voiced his vision like this: “We’re constructing something here. The bounces will come.”

To secure their second place in the NCHC standings, Arizona State convincingly defeated their opponent, hence strengthening their case for an NCAA tournament bid. As for Miami, they continue to search for the right answers as they prepare for a rather difficult trip on the road against No. 5 Denver later this month.

The scoreboard as the RedHawks left the ice was no surprise — another close defeat in a season of heartbreaks. However, in the distant murmur of this battle in Week 12, the light of hope refuses to be extinguished—the belief that no matter how many defeats come by, the fortune will eventually shine again.