Box score
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Western Michigan's hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 10/11 Notre Dame in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action at Joyce Center this evening. Senior Mike Lesperance netted his first goal of the season for the Broncos, while sophomore goaltender Riley Gill made a season-high 40 saves. WMU drops to 3-6-0 overall (1-4-0 CCHA) while Notre Dame improved to 8-4-0 (6-2-0 CCHA).
“Obviously we've said this a number of times. We're competing and we're batting real hard, but 11 minor penalties, that's a lot to ask from your goaltender, your defense and the guys on the penalty kill. That's too many minutes,” head coach Jim Culhane said. “They're a good hockey team and we need to get regrouped for tomorrow night.”
Ryan Thang gave the Irish a 1-0 lead at 10:41 of the first with his sixth goal of the season. Ben Ryan and Justin White assisted on the goal, scored from the high slot area.
Lesperance knotted the score 1-1 in the final minute of the period. Sophomore Tyler Ludwig garnered an assist on the play, fighting for the puck along the boards and chipping it ahead to Lesperance, who skated in on ND netminder Jordan Pearce and beat him low. Dave Krisky also assisted on Lesperance's goal.
Notre Dame regained the one-goal edge early in the second period when Dan VeNard's shot from the point found the back of the net at 2:16. Kevin Deeth and Dan Kissell helped set up the play. Shortly thereafter junior Jeff LoVecchio had a breakaway, stepping out of the penalty box and picking up a loose puck in the neutral zone. He skated in alone, pulled the puck to his forehand and had Pearce beat, but his shot rang off the left post.
Late in the period the Irish registered two quick power-play goals to extend the lead to 4-1. Erik Condra tallied the first just three seconds after a five-on-three situation had expired, beating Gill top shelf with traffic in front of the net at 16:48. Just over two minutes later Mark Van Guilder scored whilst Notre Dame was enjoying a two-minute five-on-three advantage for the 4-1 edge.
Junior Patrick Galivan spring LoVecchio for his second breakaway of the game, this time while the Broncos were shorthanded, with approximately 10 minutes left in the final frame, but Pearce was able to make a pad save to deny the junior left wing. The Irish once again found themselves on the power play as time wound down, but the Western Michigan defense did not allowed them to convert and the game ended 4-1 in Notre Dame's favor.
Gill's 40 save performance marked the second time in his career that he's stopped 40+ shots and was two shy of his career high of 42. Pearce made 11 saves to earn the win. The Broncos were scoreless in one power-play opportunity while Notre Dame converted two of 11 chances.
Western Michigan and Notre Dame conclude their weekend series tomorrow at Lawson Ice Arena at 7:35 p.m. It will be WMU's first televised game of the season, broadcast on Comcast Local.
