Dec. 5, 1997
Notre Dame Hockey Stifles Western Michigan
KALAMAZOO, Mich.--The Notre Dame hockey team posted a
2-1 victory over the Broncos of Western Michigan on Friday
night. The Irish defense allowed just 12 shots over the all
three periods, which was one more than the Irish shot total for
the first period. The twelve shots allowed was the fewest by
the Irish so far this season.
|
|
Dan Carlson notched his fourth goal of the season for the Irish. (File Photo)
|
The Notre Dame offense got off to a quick start in the first
period. At 4:35 of the first period, Bronco Brent Lovett and
the Irish's Joe Dusbabek took coincidental minors for roughing.
A 4-4 on skating situation ensued, and lead to the only two
Irish tallies of the evening. Freshman Matt Van Arkel scored
his third goal of the season at 4:56 of the first period on a
deflection. Irish captain Steve Noble won the face-off in the
Bronco zone back to Irish defenseman Mark Eaton. Eaton slid the
puck across the ice to his defense partner Benoit Cotnoir who
shot the puck towards the net. Van Arkel, who was standing to
the left side of the net, deflected the puck past sliding
Bronco goaltender Matt Barnes.
The Irish did not wait long before they tallied again. Just 21
seconds later, Mark Eaton tipped the puck away from a Bronco
outside the blueline, and Freshman Dan Carlson picked it up and
skated in on a breakaway. Carlson moved in, deeked to his
forehand side, and slid it past Barnes for his fourth goal of
the season.
Notre Dame's defense clampped down, only allowing three shots
in the opening period. Western Michigan forechecked hard in the
second period, and was able to create some opportunities, but
could still only muster seven shots in the second. The Broncos
cut the Irish lead in half at 8:34 of the second period, when
Brett Mills put a rebound up over the shoulder of Irish
netminder Forrest Karr, but that was all Karr would allow on
the night.
The third period was tight, with neither team getting a shot
off in the first 5:40 of the period. The Irish only allowed two
shots in the third period, and only one good scoring
opportunity arose for the Broncos. With 6 minutes remaining,
the Broncos broke in 3-on-2 on the Irish, and Brett Mills got a
shot from the high slot, but Forrest Karr made a glove save to
preserve the win for the Irish. The win was Notre Dame's first
in five games, and it stopped a 12 game Irish losing streak at
the Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo. The Irish raised their
record to 7-6-2 overall (4-5-2 CCHA), while the Broncos fell to
5-8-2 overall (4-8-1 CCHA). The Irish leap-frogged the Broncos
in the CCHA standings for at least one night, as the same two
teams will hit the ice tomorrow night at the Joyce Center at 7
p.m.
