October 18, 1996

Notre Dame and Western Michigan Skate to 3-3 Tie

Lorenz scores once, Urick twice as Irish end 10-game losing streak vs. Broncos

Notre Dame, Ind. -- Senior Terry Lorenz netted a memorable game-tying goal in the second period before sophomore Brian Urick twice tied the game in the third as the University of Notre Dame hockey team halted its 10-game losing streak vs. the University of Western Michigan, skating to a 3-3 tie with the Broncos in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both teams Friday night in front of a crowd of 1,902 at the Joyce Center.

Notre Dame (1-0-1) outshot the visitors, 43-39, but WMU goaltender Matt Barnes came through with 40 saves, including stops on the first 25 Irish shots of the game. Notre Dame junior Matt Eisler enjoyed a solid night between the pipes as well, making 36 saves, while lowering his career goals-against average vs. the Broncos to a commendable 3.62 in six career games.

The Irish converted on just one of five power-play attempts while allowing the Broncos two goals on seven man-up opportunities. The game was the first between the teams that has been decided in overtime since an 8-7 Notre Dame victory in the 1982-83 season, stretching back 21 games in the series. Notre Dame is now 2-0-2 in its four all-time overtime games vs. the Broncos.

WMU jumped ahead on the power-play four minutes into the game when Joel Irving put back a shot from Joe Corvo, who sent a slapshot from the right point after taking a pass from Mike Melas.

The Irish netted their first equalizer on a memorable lefthanded shot from the right wing by Lorenz. Freshman Troy Bagne initiated the breakout after stopping the Broncos at the other end before senior Tim Harberts sent a lead pass for the streaking Lorenz.

The third period featured three goals in a span of 80 seconds, with the Broncos twice reclaiming the lead. WMU's Justin Cardwell took a pass from Melas at the left point and drove through the slot before sending a wrist shot on Eisler, who made the save with his left pad. But Mark Koloszy was waiting for the Broncos' second rebound goal of the game, scooping the puck past Eisler at the 4:15 mark.

Just 26 seconds later, Irish freshman Nathan Borega kept the puck in at the blue line and wristed a shot towards the net. Barnes was there for the save but the right-handed Urick gathered in the rebound and went around Barnes for a backhand goal.

The Broncos surged back in front at the 5:25 mark when Darryl Andrews ripped a shot from the left point that deflected off the skate of an Irish defenseman and trickled into the right side of the net. Shawn Zimmerman was credited with the second assist on the Broncos' second power-play goal of the game while Steve Duke fed Andrews for his 10th career assist vs. Notre Dame.

But Urick and the Irish had one more game-tying goal in them and the highly-touted sophomore converted on Notre Dame's first power-play goal of the season with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Sophomore Aniket Dhadphale got things going when he circled around from the right corner and got knocked off the puck. His classmate Benoit Cotnoir was on hand to gather the loose puck and sent a shot on goal from the left circle.

A sprawling Urick then came away with the fourth rebound goal of the game, sliding the puck past Barnes for what would be the final score of the game.

The Broncos had the only three shots of overtime, with Duke's shot from the left circle just 35 seconds into the extra session providing the visitors' best chance before Eisler came through with a kick save off his right pad.

Dhadphale nearly had a breakaway down the left side with 2:50 remaining in overtime but he was unable to control the lead pass near the midline and the puck went back into the Bronco's offensive end after the ensuing icing call.

NOTRE DAME COACH DAVE POULIN: "That's a game we would have lost last year. I liked Aniket Dhadphale's chances in the last few minutes. He's going to get those to go in. Special teams remains a concern for us. We worked on it all week but they scored two power -play goals and so much of college hockey these days is special teams. You have to excel at it. Western lived on the power-play last year. I think we competed right from the drop of the puck. (Freshman forward) Joe Dusbabek was a physical force right from the start. This was a big night for Terry Lorenz. That's the best he's skated in a long time. Tim Harberts also worked very hard tonight. Obviously, Matt Eisler came up real big for us. He's part of the team just like anyone else and is supposed to play great. He's just playing very sharp right now."

WESTERN MICHIGAN COACH BILL WILKINSON: "Tonight's game was certainly hard-fought. Notre Dame is an improved team. We didn't capitalize on our opportunities in front of the net or when it came to clearing the puck. And that hurt us tonight."