Men's Ice Hockey Falls Friday at #13 Notre Dame, 7-2

Men's Ice Hockey Falls Friday at #13 Notre Dame, 7-2

Bookmark and Share

Links: Box Score

Saturday (7 p.m.): TV: NBC Sports | Live Stats | Video | Audio (Free) | Tickets | Follow @MerrimackMIH | Game Notes

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team fell for the sixth straight game after suffering a 7-2 setback against No. 13/13 Notre Dame on Friday night at Compton Family Ice Arena.

The Basics
 Score: Notre Dame 7, Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (7-10-5, 2-4-5 HEA) | #13/13 Notre Dame (11-4-7, 7-1-2 HEA)
Location: Compton Family Ice Arena | South Bend, Ind.

How It Happened
 Making only its second trip to Compton Family Ice Arena in program history, Merrimack took to the ice against the Fighting Irish looking to even the all-time series and snap its season-long five-game losing streak dating back to mid-December.

Each team traded first-period goals, as Notre Dame struck first while on the man advantage nearly four minutes into the game. Anders Bjork buried a wrister from the low slot off a feed from Jake Evans to put the hosts on top, but five minutes later, junior Hampus Gustafsson (Ljungby, Sweden) tallied his sixth of the season after his tough-angle shot from the red line bounced in to tie thing up at 1-1.

Notre Dame would have the last laugh in the period, as Mario Lucia lit the lamp at 17:24 to give the home side a 2-1 edge after 20 minutes despite Merrimack holding a 14-6 edge in shots on goal.

A pair of goals from Andrew Oglevie, both in similar fashion, resulted in a pair of Notre Dame goals within a six-minute span midway through the second. But sophomore Jared Kolquist (Hermantown, Minn.) salvaged the period after ripping home a one-timer from the top of the near circle for his first goal in nearly 14 months to get the Warriors to within two.

But that was the closest Merrimack would get, as Notre Dame potted three in the third to put the game out of reach. Jordan Gross (6:55), Bobby Nardella (14:25) and Jake Evans (15:19) all scored for the Irish in the final frame, with the latter coming on the power play.

How They Scored
 ND #1 (PP) | P1 3:42 – Bjork wrist shot from the low slot goes through traffic and over Delia's glove.

MC #1 | P1 8:28 – Gustafsson squeezes a shot off from the goal line to Petersen's right, as the puck takes a bounce and caroms into the net.

ND #2 | P1 17:24 – Lucia curls from the behind the net, turns and roofs a wrister over Delia's glove from the bottom of the right-wing circle.

ND #3 | P2 7:39 – Stretch pass from Nardella finds the stick of Oglevie at the blue line. Oglevie, who was 1-on-1 with a defenseman, dekes to get behind him before going forehand over the glove of Delia from the low slot.

ND #4 | P2 13:34 – Lob pass from the right-wing half boards in the Notre Dame defensive zone from Nardella connects with Oglevie in the Merrimack defensive zone. Oglevie settles the puck behind the Merrimack defense, and goes in alone on Delia before sliding a backhander five hole.

MC #2 | P2 16:10 – Kolquist one-timer from the top of the left-wing circle clanks off the far post and into the net.

ND #5 | P3 6:55 – Gross pinches in and fires a snap shot in the slot on the edge of the right-wing circle that beats Delia trapper side.

ND #6 | P3 14:25 – Nardella one-timer at the left hash in the slot.

ND #7 (PP) | P3 15:19 – Puck bounces through the crease, Evans punches it home on the weak side of the crease.

Notes and Numbers

  • Kolquist's third career goal was his first in nearly 14 months (420 days, to be exact); the sophomore's last goal was against Northeastern on Nov. 21, 2014
  • Merrimack has now lost six straight, matching a similar six-game skid it suffered from Jan. 31-Feb. 20 of last season (which was in the midst of an 0-8-1 stretch)
  • The seven goals were the most surrendered by Merrimack in a game this season and the most since a 7-1 loss at Maine on Feb. 26, 2011
  • The Warriors are also winless in three all-time meetings at Compton Family Ice Arena (0-2-1)
  • Christie led Merrimack with two points, both of which were assists
  • Power Plays: Merrimack 0-4 | Notre Dame 2-3
  • SOG (MC-ND): 14-6 // 9-9 // 4-13 // 27-28

Up Next
 Merrimack and Notre Dame conclude the weekend series tomorrow night. Puck drop from Compton Family Ice Arena is set for 7 p.m., and the game will once again be broadcast on NBC Sports.

--

For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.

Print Friendly Version