KALAMAZOO -- The 10th ranked Western Michigan Bronco hockey team completed the weekend sweep of No. 3 Notre Dame with a 3-1 win on Saturday night in front of 4,237 fans at Lawson Ice Arena. The win moves Western Michigan into sole possession of second place in the Central COllegiate Hockey Association.
The Broncos (12-7-5, 9-4-3-3 CCHA) netted two power play goals on the night and freshman goalie
Frank Slubowski made 25 saves to give WMU its fourth sweep of the season.
Matt Tennyson,
Chase Balisy and
Jordan Oesterle each potted goals for WMU, while sophomore defenseman
Dennis Brown tallied three assists on the night.
The Broncos as a team blocked 28 shots with
Luke Witkowski leading the way with a team-high 11.
The Brown & Gold took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Tennyson rifled in his seventh of the season at 13:17 on a five-on-three power play. Shane Bershbach passed the puck towards Brown, who faked a shot and let it go through his legs to Tennyson, who fired it from the top of the left circle and into the net. The assist extended Berschbach's assist streak to four games, tallying six during the streak.
WMU extended the lead to 2-0 at 11:57 in the second period during a four-on-three power play. Balisy took the puck from Bershbach and fired a shot from the slot but it hit Berschbach in the chest. The puck squirted to the left of the crease and Balisy calmly buried it into the net. The goal was Balisy's ninth of the season and was also his team-leading 24th point. The Nashville Predators draft pick has now scored a goal in each of his last five games.
The Fighting Irish took one back on a five-on-three goal of their own scored by T.J. Tynan at 15:46 in the second period to cut the lead to 2-1 entering the third period.
Oesterle pushed the game out of reach for Notre Dame early in the third period. The freshman defenseman took the puck from Brown at center ice, weaving his way through several Irish players before shelfing it over UND goalie Mike Johnson's shoulder for his second goal of the season.
With a two goal lead in hand the Broncos held on, holding Notre Dame to eight shots in the third period.
Western Michigan heads on the road to battle conference rival Miami on Friday at 7:35 p.m. and on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
