University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
6-7-4, 2-4-4HEA
#20 Notre Dame
8-4-4, 5-1-2HEA
UMass Hockey Falls 5-1 At No. 20 Notre Dame
December 05, 2015 | Hockey
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Massachusetts hockey pulled even with No. 20 Notre Dame after an early deficit, but four unanswered goals carried the Fighting Irish past the Minutemen, 5-1, on Saturday night at Compton Family Ice Arena. The loss leaves UMass at 6-7-4 overall and 2-4-3 in Hockey East, while the Irish improve to 8-4-4 on the year and 5-1-2 in league action.
Senior Shane Walsh scored the lone goal of the contest for the Minutemen for a second straight game, his team-leading 11th of the season. Juniors Steven Iacobellis and Ray Pigozzi collected their ninth assists of the year on the tally, while Pigozzi’s marked his 50th career point in 81 career games.
For the second night in a row, Notre Dame opened the scoring early in the first. Steven Fogarty knocked a puck home at the doorstep that came from Mario Lucia below the goal line and Sam Herr at the 3:33 mark.
UMass answered 7:11 into the stanza to knot things up at 1-1. Off a feed from Iacobellis and Pigozzi in the corner, Walsh wristed a shot home that found a gap to Cal Petersen’s right.
The Irish regained the lead less than two minutes later, though. Off an offensive zone faceoff win by Jake Evans, Dylan Malmquist tucked a shot underneath the crossbar at 8:52 to put Notre Dame in front, 2-1.
Notre Dame pushed its advantage 3-1 with an extra attacker on with a delayed penalty call 4:55 into the second period. Connor Hurley redirected a shot from the point by Andy Ryan past Nic Renyard with Luke Ripley earning an assist on the play, as well.
The Irish then completed the scoring with two third period goals from Anders Bjork at 2:03 and 16:57.
Notre Dame finished the contest with a 34-29 shot advantage and went 0-4 on the power play. UMass went 0-for-2 with the man advantage, but extended its streak to 23 straight penalty kills with the Irish going 0-for-4 on the power play. Renyard totaled 29 saves in the setback, while Petersen turned aside 28 shots for Notre Dame.
The Minutemen will return to action next Fri., Dec. 11, when the squad will play host to Union at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter @UMassHockey and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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