Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Notre Dame
Hockey Posts 3-1 Win Over Notre Dame
11/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 7, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State hockey team won their fifth straight contest Friday night (Nov. 7) at Munn Ice Arena behind a valiant 23-save effort from freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.). With the win, MSU improves to 6-3 overall, 5-2 in the CCHA, while Notre Dame falls to 5-3 overall, 4-3 in the conference.
"I thought it was an even, hard-fought game," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "It was a good college hockey game. There was solid goaltending both ways. We competed very well."
Despite a tight checking and intense effort from both sides, the slow starting match-up between Michigan State and Notre Dame culminated in a Spartan goal after nearly two full periods of scoreless play.
The Spartans netted the game's first goal at the 19:19 mark of the second period. After a spectacular display of puck handling, freshman Tommy Goebel (Parma, Ohio) slipped a pass to defenseman A.J. Thelen (Savage, Minn.) in the slot. Thelen put a one timer over Irish goalie Morgan Cey's glove to give MSU a 1-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
 Dominic Vicari stopped 23-of-24 shots in MSU's 3-1 win over Notre Dame.  | |
With the assist, Goebel extended his point scoring streak to five straight games, for an impressive 7-5-12 point showing in the first nine games of his freshman campaign.
With Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) serving a high sticking penalty, Michigan State took a two-goal lead on shorthanded tally by Adam Nightingale (Cheboygan, Mich.) at 10:22 of the third period. Nightingale showed a great display of speed as he soared by a Notre Dame defender, taking a pass from his younger brother Jared Nightingale (Cheboygan, Mich.) and sliding a quick wrist shot on the short side between the left pad and glove of Cey.
"Jared made a good play to get the puck out," said Adam Nightingale. "It turned out to be a footrace and I happened to win the race. I shot as hard as I could and it just went in. It was a pretty neat experience to be able to share with my brother (setting up the goal)."
But just 31 seconds later, with Fretter still in the penalty box, an Irish power-play goal cut the Spartans lead in half. Mike Walsh roofed a bouncing puck in front of the net to narrow the contest to 2-1 at 10:53 of the third period.
After turning away numerous offensive scrambles by Notre Dame in the last minute of play, junior forward Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) put the game out of reach with 17.3 seconds remaining as he took a feed from Adam Nightingale in front of the net and pitched in an empty net goal.
The Spartans will face-off against Notre Dame tomorrow evening (Nov. 8) at 7 p.m. in the conclusion of their homestand at Munn Ice Arena.
Spartan Notebook
* Michigan State leads the all-time series with Notre Dame, 51-30-7. MSU is 7-1-2 in its last 10 meetings with the Fighting Irish.
* The Spartans carry a five-game winning streak into Saturday's game.
* The Spartans have scored 16 third-period goals this season, including two vs. Notre Dame.
* MSU is 6-0 when scoring the first goal of the third period.
