KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- No. 18 Western Michigan dropped its home-opener to No. 8 Notre Dame, 3-0, in front of a sold out crowd of 4,118 at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.

The Bronco offense struggled to gain momentum as the team was busy killing penalties throughout the night, taking 10 total. The penalty kill was solid again, killing off eight of Notre Dame's nine advantages but goals by Thomas DiPauli, Sam Herr and Kevin Lind were too much to overcome. WMU was outshot 41-22 on the night and shutout for the second straight game for the first time since Jan. 1-2, 2010 after a 0-0 tie and 3-0 loss to Bemidji State.

After a scoreless first period DiPauli got the Fighting Irish on the board at 4:08 in the second stanza. WMU goalie Frank Slubowski was without his stick and a defensive breakdown resulted in an open shot for DiPauli from the top of the right circle and into the left-hand corner of the net.

The Fighting Irish pushed the score to 2-0 with Herr's power play goal at 57-seconds in the third period. Shane Taker fired a shot from the center-point and Herr tipped it past Slubowski for his first career goal.

Lind added an empty-net goal from the length of the ice with 1:20 remaining in the third period to put the nail in the coffin for the Broncos.

Slubowski was stellar in net, making a game-high 38 saves, which included 19 in the second period.

The Broncos make the long trek to Fairbanks, Alaska for the Alaska Goal Rush on Friday and Saturday. WMU battles Anchorage on Friday at 9:05 p.m. and then hosts Fairbanks on Saturday at 11:05 p.m.