Notre Dame Hockey Falls Late to Michigan State

After coming away with a shootout win on Friday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hockey was back in action Saturday night to finish their series with the Michigan State Spartans. Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead but gave up two late goals in the third period and lost 3-2.

First Period

Notre Dame went on the power play early and managed to take the lead less than 3 minutes into the game. Cam Morrison picked up the puck behind the Spartan net before finding Mike O’Leary open in front of goal. O’Leary put the puck onto his forehand before finding an angle to put it into the back of the net. That’s all the offense that would come in the first and the Irish went into the break with the lead.

Second Period

The second period was equally as quiet as the first with only one goal, this time it was Michigan State that scored though. About halfway through the period Sam Saliba was able to find a goal to tie the game.

Third Period

Notre Dame managed another early goal in the third period, again on the power play. Nick Leivermann and Cal Burke played the puck back and forth before Leivermann fired a shot from the top of the slot that gave Notre Dame the 2-1 lead. Michigan State wasn’t done though. The Spartans tied the game halfway through the period and then found the game winning goal with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Scoring

Notre Dame: Mike O’Leary (6) on the PP at 2:20 in the 1st, assisted by Cam Morrison and Colin Theisen

Michigan State: Sam Saliba (2) at 13:17 in the 2nd, unassisted

Notre Dame: Nick Leivermann (3) on the PP at 0:18 in the 3rd, assisted by Cal Burke and Colin Theisen

Michigan State: Logan Lambdin (4) at 13:48 in the 3rd, assisted by Josh Nodler

Michigan State: Sam Saliba (3) at 18:50 in the 3rd, assisted by Jerad Rosburg and Dennis Cesana

Penalties

Michigan State: Christian Krygier, 2 for interference at 1:27 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Alex Steeves, 2 for high-sticking at 14:47 in the 1st

Notre Dame: Pierce Crawford, 2 for roughing at 7:54 in the 2nd

Michigan State: Christian Krygier, 2 for roughing at 7:54 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Jake Pivonka, 2 for hooking at 13:17 in the 2nd

Michigan State: Jerad Rosburg, 2 for holding at 18:16 in the 2nd

Michigan State: Butrus Ghafari, 2 for cross-checking at 18:59 in the 2nd

Goalies

Notre Dame: Cale Morris made 26 saves on 29 shots in the loss

Michigan State: John Lethemon made 23 saves on 25 shots for the win

Up Next

Notre Dame returns home next weekend for a series with the Bowling Green Falcons on Friday and Saturday at the Compton Family Ice Arena.