October 18, 1996
Notre Dame and Western Michigan Skate to 3-3 Tie
Lorenzscores once, Urick twice as Irish end 10-game losing streak vs.Broncos
Notre Dame, Ind. — Senior Terry Lorenz netted a memorablegame-tying goal in the second period before sophomore Brian Urick twicetied the game in the third as the University of Notre Dame hockey teamhalted its 10-game losing streak vs. the University of Western Michigan,skating to a 3-3 tie with the Broncos in the Central Collegiate HockeyAssociation opener for both teams Friday night in front of a crowd of1,902 at the Joyce Center.
Notre Dame (1-0-1) outshot the visitors, 43-39, but WMU goaltenderMatt Barnes came through with 40 saves, including stops on the first 25Irish shots of the game. Notre Dame junior Matt Eisler enjoyed a solidnight between the pipes as well, making 36 saves, while lowering hiscareer goals-against average vs. the Broncos to a commendable 3.62 insix career games.
The Irish converted on just one of five power-play attempts whileallowing the Broncos two goals on seven man-up opportunities. The gamewas the first between the teams that has been decided in overtime sincean 8-7 Notre Dame victory in the 1982-83 season, stretching back 21games in the series. Notre Dame is now 2-0-2 in its four all-timeovertime games vs. the Broncos.
WMU jumped ahead on the power-play four minutes into the game whenJoel Irving put back a shot from Joe Corvo, who sent a slapshot from theright point after taking a pass from Mike Melas.
The Irish netted their first equalizer on a memorable lefthandedshot from the right wing by Lorenz. Freshman Troy Bagne initiated thebreakout after stopping the Broncos at the other end before senior TimHarberts sent a lead pass for the streaking Lorenz.
The third period featured three goals in a span of 80 seconds, withthe Broncos twice reclaiming the lead. WMU’s Justin Cardwell took a passfrom Melas at the left point and drove through the slot before sending awrist shot on Eisler, who made the save with his left pad. But MarkKoloszy was waiting for the Broncos’ second rebound goal of the game,scooping the puck past Eisler at the 4:15 mark.
Just 26 seconds later, Irish freshman Nathan Borega kept the puck inat the blue line and wristed a shot towards the net. Barnes was therefor the save but the right-handed Urick gathered in the rebound and wentaround Barnes for a backhand goal.
The Broncos surged back in front at the 5:25 mark when DarrylAndrews ripped a shot from the left point that deflected off the skateof an Irish defenseman and trickled into the right side of the net.Shawn Zimmerman was credited with the second assist on the Broncos’second power-play goal of the game while Steve Duke fed Andrews for his10th career assist vs. Notre Dame.
But Urick and the Irish had one more game-tying goal in them and thehighly-touted sophomore converted on Notre Dame’s first power-play goalof the season with just under 12 minutes remaining in regulation.Sophomore Aniket Dhadphale got things going when he circled around fromthe right corner and got knocked off the puck. His classmate BenoitCotnoir was on hand to gather the loose puck and sent a shot on goalfrom the left circle.
A sprawling Urick then came away with the fourth rebound goal of thegame, sliding the puck past Barnes for what would be the final score ofthe game.
The Broncos had the only three shots of overtime, with Duke’s shotfrom the left circle just 35 seconds into the extra session providingthe visitors’ best chance before Eisler came through with a kick saveoff his right pad.
Dhadphale nearly had a breakaway down the left side with 2:50remaining in overtime but he was unable to control the lead pass nearthe midline and the puck went back into the Bronco’s offensive end afterthe ensuing icing call.
NOTRE DAME COACH DAVE POULIN: “That’s a game we would have lostlast year. I liked Aniket Dhadphale’s chances in the last few minutes.He’s going to get those to go in. Special teams remains a concern forus. We worked on it all week but they scored two power -play goals andso much of college hockey these days is special teams. You have to excelat it. Western lived on the power-play last year. I think we competedright from the drop of the puck. (Freshman forward) Joe Dusbabek was aphysical force right from the start. This was a big night for TerryLorenz. That’s the best he’s skated in a long time. Tim Harberts alsoworked very hard tonight. Obviously, Matt Eisler came up real big forus. He’s part of the team just like anyone else and is supposed to playgreat. He’s just playing very sharp right now.”
WESTERN MICHIGAN COACH BILL WILKINSON: “Tonight’s game wascertainly hard-fought. Notre Dame is an improved team. We didn’tcapitalize on our opportunities in front of the net or when it came toclearing the puck. And that hurt us tonight.”