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TWINDA is quickly turning into a long-form read. Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's Irish match-ups.
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Hockey: The Irish (19-12-1, 15-8-1-1), as is their wont, split their weekend matches with no. 3 Miami (OH). Friday night, they fell to the RedHawks, 3-1, after giving up two second-period goals within 30 seconds of each other and failing to score on any of six power plays. The Irish were outshot by Miami, 22-21. Steven Fogarty scored ND's lone goal in the third period.
Sunday, the Irish claimed a big 2-1 win over the RedHawks at the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field in Chicago. In front of 52,000 fans with temperatures hovering around freezing and decked out in extra shiny gold helmets, Notre Dame's Mario Lucia and Jeff Costello put the puck in Miami's net. Goaltender Steven Summerhays played very well and stopped 22 of 23 shots for the Irish, who outshot the RedHawks, 28-23. They were 0-3 in power plays, failing to capitalize again, but Miami also made nothing of their own 3 power plays - ND killed off a five-minute major late in the first period. The win clinched a first-round bye in CCHA playoffs for the Irish.
As you can see in the highlights, the hockey team is now sporting awesome new gold helmets with the football helmets' "Gold Standard" finish from HydroGraphics. It's a beautiful thing. Which Irish headgear will be the next to make the switch? Will we see blinding batting helmets? Extra shiny swim caps? Gilded visors for tennis and golf?
The Irish face Western Michigan this Friday (7:35 p.m. EST, CBSSN) and Saturday (7:35 p.m. EST).
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Track & Field: Congratulations to the women's team, who claimed their third Big East Indoor Championship title this weekend in a dominant performance over the field. Individual championships came in the 60m hurdles, 400m, and mile, and the Irish took first in the 4x400 relay. Jade Barber, who won the 60m hurdles, ran one leg of the 4x400 relay, and came in 2nd in the 200m earned all-Big East honors in those 3 events and tied for most outstanding track performer honors.
The men's team competed with excellence this weekend, as well, earning second in the Big East Indoor Championship, behind only Connecticut. Individual championships came for the men in the heptathlon and 400m.
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Lacrosse: The no. 3 men's team (1-0) kicked off their season with a big 13-5 win over no. 4 Duke on Saturday, impressively claiming the match's first six goals in a snowy Durham stadium.
They face Penn State this Sunday.
The no. 8/9 women's team (1-0) conquered Stanford, 12-10, in their season-opening match, climbing back from a 7-2 deficit. They face Ohio State next Wednesday at home.
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Tennis: The no. 19 women's team (5-3) struggled to two losses this weekend. In an exciting Friday-evening match lasting over four and a half hours, the Irish finally fell to Purdue, 4-3. Sunday, no. 10 Northwestern conquered the Irish, 5-2. Notre Dame faces no. 18 Baylor at home on Friday then Indiana in Bloomington on Sunday.
The no. 29 men's team (6-4) claimed the 4-3 victory over no. 21 Michigan at home on Saturday in a long and thrilling match. Always love to see the Irish take down the Wolverines. Notre Dame faces Ohio State this Saturday.
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Swimming and diving: The women's divers competed in the Michigan First Chance Meet last Saturday. There, Irish divers finished second and third on the 1-meter board and second and third on the platform.
Both men's and women's swimming and diving teams will spend the next week training for the Big East Championships next Wednesday.
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Golf: The women's team got rolling this weekend at the Mash Up Invitational in Tallahassee, where they shot 19-over par to finish in 7th in a 12-team field. Irish stand-out freshman Lindsey Weaver finished tied for 8th (218, +2).
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Baseball: The Irish (2-1) kicked off the season this past Saturday with an opening-day sweep (something they haven't managed since 1992). Notre Dame conquered Florida Gulf Coast, 6-5, coming from behind in ten innings, and dominated Ohio State, 13-3. They fell to Mercer, 5-4, in a close game on Sunday. The Irish face Tulane in three games this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
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Softball: the Irish (4-5) split their five weekend games in San Diego. Notre Dame earned 2 victories over Cal Poly after falling to no. 16 Washington, 5-2. After dominating Cal Poly in a 6-0 shutout on Friday, they erased a two-score deficit to win, 4-3, Saturday. Saturday night, the Irish fell to San Diego, 4-0, then took no. 1 Oklahoma to extra innings on Sunday; ND ultimately lost, 7-5, in that thrilling weekend-closing game.
The Irish face Liberty, East Carolina, Fairfield, and Lehigh this weekend in Greenville, NC.
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Basketball: the no. 2 women's team (24-1, 12-0) routed Marquette on Sunday, putting together an 87-49 victory behind the 23 points of Big East Player of the Week Skylar Diggins and Natalie Achonwa's 17-point, 10-rebound double-double (her league-leading 14th of the season).
The Irish face DePaul on Sunday (3:30 p.m. CST, ESPNU) and Syracuse on Tuesday (7:00 p.m. EST, CBSSN).
The no. 25 men's team (21-6, 9-5) went 2-1 in the past week, claiming remarkable victories over DePaul, 82-78, and no. 20 Pittsburgh, 51-42, but falling to a superior Providence team, 71-54. Alstein excellently covers the DePaul victory here and CW reviews that unlikely Pitt victory here.
The Irish next face Cincinnati on Sunday (2:00 p.m. EST, CBS).
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Fencing: The no. 1 women's team (20-1) and the no. 2 men's team (12-7) were idle this week, though some participated in the National Junior Olympics. This Saturday, the Irish will compete in the Notre Dame Duals.
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We'll bring you updates again next week on all our Notre Dame Olympic sports. Go Irish.