Oct. 17, 2015
Box Score | Box Score vs. Penn State 
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Notre Dame hockey team dropped a 5-3 decision to Penn State on Saturday afternoon at a sold out Pegula Ice Arena (6,150) in a back-and-forth affair that included a combined four power-play goals.
The Irish (1-1-0, 0-0-0 HEA) built a 2-1 lead on a first period goal by Ben Ostlie and a second period power-play tally by Dylan Malmquist.
But the Nittany Lions (2-1-0, 0-0-0 B1G), aided by an extended five-on-three power-play opportunity, scored three goals in 2:21 of elapsed time midway through the second period to take a 4-2 lead.
Mario Lucia then scored a power-play goal at 12:40 of the second to cut the Notre Dame deficit to one.
The Irish had several chances in the third to tie it, including Dennis Gilbert hitting the cross bar with just over five minutes left, but Penn State sealed the win with an empty net power-play goal at 19:47.
“Our team has to have the discipline to make good puck decisions, which we did at times,” Head Coach Jeff Jackson said. “At the offensive blue line, we need to get it deep and avoid some turnovers.”
Penn State goaltender Eamon McAdam earned the win with 30 saves, including 14 in the third period when Notre Dame was really pushing for a game-tying goal.
In the Notre Dame net, Cal Petersen finished with 34 saves.
The Irish were 2-for-4 on the power play, while Penn State finished 3-for-3, including the empty netter.
“We learned some things about our team this weekend with some of the forwards and some of the defensemen,” Jackson added. “In that way it was a good experience for us and this was a great environment with good hockey.”
Notre Dame plays host to seventh-ranked Minnesota Duluth next weekend (Oct. 23-24) in the regular season, home-opening weekend for the Irish. Friday night’s 6:05 p.m. game will be televised by the American Sports Network (specific networks carrying the broadcast TBA), while the NBC Sports Network will televise Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. contest.
Goals
— Jake Evans fired a quick shot from the high slot that Penn State goaltender Eamon McAdam fought off, but Ben Ostlie was in in front to knock home his first goal of the season and the second of his Irish career at 1:58 of the first period to give Notre Dame a 1-0 lead. Jordan Gross also earned his third assist of the weekend on the play.
— Penn State capitalized on a rebound to tie the game at 1-1 on a David Thompson goal at 8:34 of the first period. Petersen made an initial save from a shot at the top of his right circle but in the ensuing scramble for the loose puck, Thompson was able to force the puck over the goal line. Kenny Brooks and Curtis Loik assisted on the goal.
— Freshman Bobby Nardella earned his first career point when he found classmate Dylan Malmquist open at the far post just before a Notre Dame power-play chance was set to expire. Malmquist whipped a shot high past McAdam for his first career goal and Notre Dame’s first power-play goal of the season at 7:38 of the second period to give Notre Dame a 2-1 lead.
— Penn State answered with a pair of power-play goals to take a 4-2 lead. Just four seconds after a minor penalty was called on Luke Ripley, Thomas DiPauli was called for a delay of game on the ensuing defensive zone faceoff as he tried to battle for possession. Chase Berger finished off the next offensive zone possession by Penn State for a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 8:15 of the second. Then, on the ensuing 5-on-4 power play, Alec Marsh netted his third of the season from the slot to give Penn State a 3-2 lead at 9:49.
— Just 47 seconds later, Ricky DeRosa made it 4-2 Penn State when he tipped a feed from Matt Mendleson high past Petersen at 10:36 of the second period.
— Mario Lucia made it a 4-3 game with a power-play goal at 12:40 of the second. Evans fired a shot that bounced off of McAdam’s chest protector and Lucia forced the carom back into the net for his second goal of the weekend. Anders Bjork also had an assist on the play.
— Penn State sealed the win when Curtis Loik skated into the offensive zone and scored an empty net, power-play goal at 19:47 of the third. Goodwin assisted on the play.
Notes
— Freshman Dylan Malmquist scored his first career goal, a power-play tally, at 7:38 of the second period.
— Freshman Bobby Nardella notched his first career point with the primary assist on Malmquist’s goal.
— Freshman Jack Jenkins made his first career appearance in the Irish lineup.
— With two assists, Jake Evans notched his first multi-point game of the season.
— Twelve members of the Irish recorded at least one point in the two-game series versus Penn State.
— This weekend’s games were the first two games between the Nittany Lions and the Fighting Irish since Penn State joined the NCAA Div. I ranks.
— On Friday night, the Irish improved 24-22-2 all-time in season openers, including a 5-6-0 mark under Head Coach Jeff Jackson. Notre Dame’s seven goals were it’s most in a season opener since a 10-2 win over St. Francis Xavier on Oct. 14, 1994.
— Former Notre Dame forward Vincent Hinostroza was called up to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday afternoon and could make his NHL debut tonight. If he makes his NHL debut, he would be the seventh Notre Dame product to play in the NHL this season and the 27th all time.
– by Dan Colleran, Athletics Communications Associate Director