University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
6-6-4, 2-3-4HEA
#20 Notre Dame
7-4-4, 4-1-2HEA
UMass Hockey Topped by No. 20 Notre Dame, 3-1
December 04, 2015 | Hockey
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Senior Shane Walsh scored his team-leading 10th goal of the year, but Massachusetts hockey was unable to erase a 2-0 first period deficit, falling 3-1 at No. 20 Notre Dame on Friday night at Compton Family Ice Arena. The loss leaves the Minutemen at 6-6-4 on the season and 2-3-4 in Hockey East play, while the Fighting Irish improve to 7-4-4 overall and 4-1-2 in league action.
Notre Dame struck early with Steven Fogarty firing a shot from the right faceoff circle that changed directions on its way into the net 3:38 into the contest. Passes from Mario Lucia and Andy Ryan set up Fogarty’s tally that put the Irish in front, 1-0.
Then at the 7:02 mark, Notre Dame increased its lead to 2-0 as Joe Wegwerth wrapped the puck around the net to find Dawson cook in the slot for the score. Jordan Gross earned an assist on the play, as well.
The Irish added a third goal 15:53 into the second period. Thomas DiPauli, who received the puck from Gross and Anders Bjork, skated across the top of the slot and fired a backhander through traffic that pushed the margin to 3-0.
After out-shooting Notre Dame 15-11 in the second period, UMass managed to get on the scoreboard early in the third. Ben Gallacher corralled the puck along the boards and centered it to freshman William Lagesson, who tapped it over to Walsh for a quick strike from the slot at the 4:01 mark of the stanza.
The Irish ended the contest with a 30-28 shot advantage, with the Minutemen holding a 24-18 edge over the final 40 minutes. UMass extended its streak of successful penalty kills to 19 straight with Notre Dame going 0-for-2 on the power play, though the Minutemen were 0-for-3 with the man advantage on the night.
Netminder Nic Renyard made 27 saves for UMass, while Cal Petersen stopped 27 for the Irish, as well. Over the dots, sophomore Dennis Kravchenko paced the Minutemen, winning 11-of-16 draws (68.8%).
The teams will be back in action tomorrow evening with the second game of the weekend series, which will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network at 6:05 p.m.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter @UMassHockey and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
