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Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's Irish match-ups.
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Hockey: The no. 3/1 Irish (13-4-0, 9-1-0-0) - that's number 3 in the country, according to the most recent USCHO poll -earned another sweep this weekend against Michigan State, earning the 3-2 victory on Friday night and then claiming a 5-1 decision Saturday. In the first contest, the Irish outshot MSU, 39-24, and had goals from Nick Larson and, on power plays, Mario Lucia and T. J. Tynan.
The Irish skated to victory Saturday night with a dominant performance, out-scoring Michigan State, 5-1, despite being outshot, 30-23. This was Notre Dame's seventh consecutive CCHA win and their fifth straight overall. The Irish are 12-0 this season when scoring the game's first goal, and 1-4 when failing to do so.
The Irish racked up their five goals from all four lines before the Spartans scored with just two and a half minutes remaining in the third period. Anders Lee, the top goal-maker in the CCHA, unsurprisingly put the puck in the net first. Although he lost his bid for another shutout, goaltender Steven Summerhays is still no. 2 in the conference in save percentage with 100 more minutes minding the net than the no. 1.
The Irish face Bowling Green this Saturday, then break until facing Minnesota on January 8th.
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Track and Field: The Irish kicked off their season in good form Friday night with the Blue & Gold Invitational in the Loftus Sports Center. Both men's and women's teams competed, claiming victories in 26 of 33 events (13 for both men's and women's teams). Forty-four Irish competitors, including 25 women and 19 men, qualified for the Big East Indoor Championships in the new year.
The Irish hit the track and return to the filed at the Grand Valley Invitational on January 11th.
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Basketball: The no. 5 women's team (6-1) fell to no. 3 Baylor, 73-61, last Wednesday. Up-and-comer Jewell Loyd put up 24 points on the night and Kayle McBride had 18, but it wasn't enough to top Notre Dame's championship foe from last season. Baylor's team is unchanged from last year and the Irish retain just two starters, so coach Muffet McGraw was pleased with the performance - the Irish had the game tied up with seven minutes left.
Saturday, the Irish took out Utah State, 109-70, at home. Natalie Achonwa racked up 23 points and both Markisha Wright and Skylar Diggins had double-doubles.
The Irish next face Alabama A&M next Wednesday, the 19th.
The no. 22 men's team (8-1 on the season) conquered Brown Saturday night, 84-57, behind freshman Cameron Biedscheid's 17 points. Five Irish players scored in double figures and Eric Atkins and Jack Cooley finished with double-doubles.
The Irish face the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday and the Mastodons of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Monday.
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We'll bring you updates again next week on the Notre Dame Olympic sports. Go Irish.