Box Score
SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The Western Michigan men's hockey team fell to No. 11 Notre Dame 3-1 on Saturday night in front of 2,770 fans at the Joyce Center.
The Fighting Irish were 3-for-11 on the power play and it proved to be the difference in the game tonight as the Broncos (8-25-3, 4-22-2 CCHA) dropped their final regular season game.
After tying a career high in saves last night with 42, Riley Gill made 35 saves. Gill helped shut out Notre Dame, 3-1, the night before and UND goalie Jordan Pearce returned the favor tonight by stopping 15 shots and came within seven seconds of the shut out.
Western Michigan spent much of the first period on the penalty and the Fighting Irish struck first during a five-on-three power play. Kyle Lawson took a shot from between the circles and Ryan Thang deflected the puck into the net and past WMU goaltender Riley Gill.
After Jeff LoVecchio exited the box he got the puck and skated past a Notre Dame defender, his shot got past UND goaltender Jordan Pearce but bounced post-to-post and out.
The Broncos were out-shot 20-to-6 in the first period and were able to kill off three-of-four power plays.
Notre Dame pushed the lead to 2-0 with 2:03 remaining in the second period. Erik Condra scored from directly in front of the net during a power play. Thang and Cole picked up assists on the power-play goal. Notre Dame held the Broncos to only two shots on goal in the second period, while firing off 13.
The Broncos had a good scoring chance late in the third period when LoVecchio fired a shot on net and freshman Patrick Nagorsen picked up the rebound and fired the puck through Pearce's legs but the shot went wide.
Notre Dame added a third power-play goal late in the third period. Evan Rankin passed the puck to Mark Van Guilder, who was at the goal line to the left of the net and snuck it behind Gill for his 11th goal of the season.
Adam Flink scored his first collegiate goal with seven seconds remaining in the game to bring the Broncos within two, but were unable to score again. Tyler Ludwig picked up his tenth assist on Flink's goal.
Western Michigan's CCHA Playoff opponent is still to be determined between Northern Michigan and Ferris State.
