Miami (Ohio) vs. Air Force

Last update: March 28, 2008 - 9:47 PM

MIAMI (OHIO) VS. AIR FORCE

When: 3 p.m. today at DCU Center

TV: ESPNU live

RedHawks at a glance: Miami is making its third consecutive and fifth overall NCAA appearance. The RedHawks are 1-4 in previous trips but this year they are the second seed overall behind Michigan. Miami, 32-7-1, lost to the Wolverines 2-1 in the championship game of the CCHA playoffs.

Miami is averaging 4.08 goals per game, best in the nation, and has five players who have scored at least 33 points. Senior forward Ryan Jones, a Hobey Baker finalist, has scored 30 goals, two more than any other Division I player. Goalie Jeff Zatkoff has a 1.68 goals-against average. Coach Enrico Blasi is a former Denver assistant.

Falcons at a glance: Air Force Academy is the hottest team coming into the tournament, going 8-0-1 in its past nine games. The Falcons, 21-11-6, beat Mercyhurst 5-4 in double overtime in the championship game of the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs. With that victory came an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament.

The team's three top scorers are sophomore forward Jeff Hajner with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points and two juniors from Minnesota, forward Brent Olson of Lake of the Woods (15-18-33) and defenseman Greg Flynn of Centennial (8-22-30).

Goalie Andrew Volkening made a career-high 49 saves against Mercyhurst; he has a 2.10 goals-against average. Frank Serratore, in his 10th season as head coach at Air Force, is a native of Coleraine, Minn.

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ