Notre Dame’s fight for a berth in the Frozen Four and the NCAA championship ended in a 4-0 shutout in favor of the UMass Minutemen. The Minutemen set a rapid and aggressive pace from the start of the first period. UMass exploded on offense early on, eventually outshooting Notre Dame’s 13 shots on goal during the game with 34. The Irish began to align themselves with the speed and assertion of the Minutemen late into the period, but it was not enough to carry them into the following sixty minutes.

Both teams had a more hesitant start to the second first period as opposed to the chaos of the first, but UMass forward Jake Gaudet took control of the direction of the remainder of the game with the first goal on the board. Minuteman John Leonard added to the momentum with another goal less than three minutes later. Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Michael Graham, notable for his vital role on his team’s power play this past season, took a penalty for hooking later in the period that sealed the outcome of the game. It left room for the UMass power play goal from Cale Makar that put the Irish at a discouraging three goal deficit.

The Irish may have gone all out going into the third period, but pulling goalie Cale Morris from the net did not yield the boost it did in last night’s game against the Clarkson Golden Knights. Minuteman Oliver Chau scored an empty netter to end Notre Dame’s push toward the championship with a 4-0 result.

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Game Summary

Scoring

UMass: Jake Gaudet at 07:49 in the 2nd, with assists from Mario Ferraro and Ty Farmer

UMass: John Leonard at 10:32 in the 2nd, with assists from Brett Boeing and Niko Hildenbrand

UMass: Cale Makar at 14:49 in the 2nd, with assists from Marc Del Gaizo and Jake Gaudet

UMass: Oliver Chau at 17:27 in the 3rd, with an assist from Jake McLaughlin

Penalties

Notre Dame: Michael Graham for hooking at 07:13 in the 2nd

UMass: Marc Del Gaizo for hooking at 08:04 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Andrew Peeke for high-sticking at 12:47 in the 2nd

UMass: Ty Farmer for roughing at 14:33 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Tory Dello for roughing at 14:33 in the 2nd

UMass: Colin Felix for roughing at 15:47 in the 2nd

Notre Dame: Andrew Peeke for cross-checking at 11:12 in the 3rd

Goalies

UMass: Lindberg (13 saves)

Notre Dame: Cale Morris (30 saves)