Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Notre Dame
Hockey Falls In Overtime To Notre Dame
12/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 11, 2004
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Michigan State dropped a 3-2 overtime heartbreak to Notre Dame at the Joyce Center on Friday night (Dec. 10). ND's Matt Amado scored at the 2:32 mark of the extra session on a rebound off of an Evan Rankin shot to give the Fighting Irish the win at home.
"We played well, worked hard and it was a good hockey game," said third-year MSU coach Rick Comley. "Both teams played extremely hard. We took two stupid penalties and that cost us the hockey game."
MSU (7-9-1 overall, 4-7-0 CCHA) jumped on the board first at the 11:29 with a power-play marker by Colton Fretter (Jr., Harrow, Ont.). Forward Drew Miller (So., East Lansing, Mich.) dug the puck out from behind the net and sent it out to Tyler Howells (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) at the point. Howells sent the puck to Fretter in the slot, who one timed a shot that beat ND netminder David Brown for his ninth goal of the season.
After an apparent goal by MSU was waved off, Notre Dame struck right back to even the game at one with just 1:03 left in the opening stanza. MSU netminder Dominic Vicari (So., Clinton Township, Mich.) made the initial save on Victor Oreskovich's shot, but couldn't corral the rebound as Mike Walsh poked home the puck for his first goal of the season.
The "ER" line gave the Spartans a 2-1 lead at the 11:26 mark of the middle stanza. Chris Mueller (Fr., West Seneca, N.Y.) won the face-off and sent it back to Ethan Graham (So., Xenia, Ohio), who fired a shot that was blocked by a ND defender. However, Mueller dug the shot out of the corner and sent it around the net to Fretter. Fretter found Miller behind the net, who worked the puck around and beat Brown low to the ground for his eighth tally of the season.
The Fighting Irish (4-8-4 overall, 3-7-3 CCHA) tied the game at two at the 18:41 mark of the third period on a 6-on-3 power-play tally by Wes O'Neill. The Spartans, who were already two men short as Jared Nightingale (5-minute major) and Corey Potter were in penalty box, couldn't clear the puck out of the zone on O'Neill's goal.
All told, MSU's Dominic Vicari finished with 43 stops, while ND's David Brown recorded 25 stops.
The teams close out the two-game series tomorrow night (Saturday, Dec. 11) at Munn Ice Arena. The puck will drop at 7:06 p.m.
Spartan Notebook
* JR D Jared Nightingale, who normally plays defense, was moved to right wing for tonight's game. Nightingale will miss Saturday's game after receiving a 5-minute major for checking from behind and a game DQ in the third period.
* Over the last three games, SO F/D Tyler Howells has one goal and four assists for five points.
* In the last 13 meetings between Notre Dame and Michigan, nine have been decided by two goals or less.
* MSU, who entered the game a perfect 7-0 when leading after 40 minutes, dropped its first contest of the season as State held a 2-1 advantage in tonight's game.
* JR F Colton Fretter's first-period tally was his team-best ninth of the season.
* The Spartans are 0-4 in one-goal games this season.
* In addition in games following a win, MSU is 2-5-1.
