Oct. 7, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The University of Michigan hockey team used an early power-play goal and two "near-power-play" goals later in the game to keep its distance from host Notre Dame before holding on for a 5-3 victory over the Irish in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both teams, Friday night at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse.

Michigan jumped ahead early on a man-up goal by freshman left wing Geoff Koch while junior right wing Josh Langfeld converted a pair of goals just seconds after Irish penalties had expired. Sophomore Josh Blackburn made 18 saves while helping stop six of seven Notre Dame power plays. The Wolverines enjoyed a 27-21 shot advantage, including 15-5 in the opening period.

The Irish cut UM's lead to 2-1 early in the second period, on the 99th career point from senior center Ben Simon (who has 32 goals and 67 assists in 105 games). Notre Dame then crept within a goal twice more, including a shorthanded score by freshman center Connor Dunlop that produced a 4- 3 game with 12 minutes remaining.

The victory was Michigan's first win over Notre Dame by more than a one-goal margin since a 7-2 game in the first meeting of the 1997-98 season (the last eight games of the series had included five one-goal wins by UM, a 4-2 Irish win, a 3-2 ND win and a 2-2 tie).

The Wolverines struck quickly by cashing in their first power-play chance of the night, after Irish junior defenseman Ryan Clark was whistled for a roughing penalty. Junior right wing Scott Matzka tracked down the puck near the left boards and slid a quick pass to freshman left wing Mark Mink, who then zipped a pass through the slot. Koch was in perfect position at the far right post and beat Irish sophomore goaltender Jeremiah Kimento for the 1-0 lead (2:11).

Notre Dame killed off UM's third power-play of the night and Irish junior left wing Jay Kopischke had just exited the box when Langeld gave the visitors a 2-0 lead midway through the second period. Sophomore center Mike Comrie brought the puck up the ice and dropped a pass to sophomore defenseman Jeff Jillson, who then fed Langfeld for a quick goal at the left side of the crease (10:38), just four seconds after Henning had released.

The Irish capitalized on a 5-on-3 chance in the opening moments of the second period. Junior left wing Dan Carlson sailed an outside shot wide of the left post but freshman right wing Michael Chin quickly tracked down the puck behind the boards and slid a pass into the slot. Simon was in position and lifted the puck over Blackburn's left shoulder for a 2-1 game (00:24).

Before Notre Dame could produce the equalizer, Michigan stretched back to a two-goal cushion. UM freshman left wing John Shouneyia centered the puck in transition, from behind the Irish goal, and several Notre Dame players failed to control the puck. Freshman right wing J.J. Swistak was trailing on the play and pounced on the bouncing puck before quickly beating Kimento for a 3-1 lead (3:22).

Notre Dame again battled back, when Clark brought the puck up ice and dropped a pass to junior Ryan Dolder-who again centered the fourth line after playing right wing for most of the previous two seasons. Dolder launched a shot from the left circle, beating Blackburn with a low shot to the glove side (7:12).

Michigan answered once again, with another near-power-play goal. Just one second after a hooking penalty on Irish sophomore Brett Henning had expired, Langfeld knocked home a shot from the left side of the crease courtesy of crisp passes around the horn by Jillson and junior center Mark Kosick (10:13).

The Irish cut the lead to one goal for a third time, as Dunlop skating free and ticked towards the inside of the left circle before beating Blackburn with a knee-high shot to the stick side (7:35).

Notre Dame pulled Kimento in the final minute and had several chances during a furious exchange in front of the Michigan net, including a couple of shots from close range by Henning and another potential game-tying chance for junior right wing Matt Van Arkel.

Comrie iced the game with 14 seconds left to play, firing into the open net.

NOTES: Dolder now has three goals and one assist in eight career games versus Michigan (he has six goals and three assists in 54 games versus all other teams) ... the last Notre Dame freshman to score in a CCHA season opener was right wing Brian Urick in 1995 (he had four goals in a 7-4 win at Alaska Fairbanks) ... Simon has 10 points (3G-7A) in 13 career games vs. the Wolverines.

NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH DAVE POULIN: "We lost a lot in the first period ... penalties was clearly one. They are an opportunistic team, they scored four power-play goals the other night, they created all their shots off the power play, and they scored. And actually, they got credit for one, there were three power play goals, two of them were just as time came back on. These are power-play goals. Penalty killing was not good at all, we were caught in-between all night, we hesitated, and it was sort of reflection of the way we played. You know some of it, yes, first CCHA game jitters, you know, playing a good team, but ... I haven't seen some things like that in a while, it's just I was really disappointed. ... We couldn't get over the barrier, but we weren't doing the things to get over the barrier. We weren't doing the little things that were necessary ... (on one-on-one battles, we were beaten to the puck all night. ... I told them I was disappointed after the game, because I was. And they should have been too. It was simply a case of going out and not performing. You know you're gonna have flat nights, you're gonna get beat some nights, that's fine. I don't think overall it was a great game, period. It wasn't a game those two teams are capable of playing. I think you are going to see a better hockey game tomorrow night."

MICHIGAN     2  2  1  -  5
NOTRE DAME   0  2  1  -  3

1st: MICH 1. Koch 1 (Mink, Matzka), PP, 2:11, MICH 2. Langfeld 1 (Jillson, Comrie) 10:38.

2nd: ND 1. Simon 1 (Chin, Carlson), PP, 00:24, MICH 3. Swistak 1 (Shouneyia) 3:22, ND 2. Dolder (Clark, Henning) 7:12, MICH 4. Langfeld 2 (Jillson, Kosick) 10:13.

3rd: ND 3. Dunlop 1 (unassisted), SHG, 7:35, MICH 5. Comrie 1 (Vincik), ENG, 19:46.

Shots: MICH 5-15-9-3/27, ND 5-11-5/21.

Saves: MICH (Blackburn) 5-9-4/18, ND (Kimento) 13-7-2/22.

Power Play: MICH 1-7, ND 1-7.

Penalties: MICH 7 for 14:00, ND 7 for 14:00.