April 2, 2002
USAF, Colo. – Freshman Chris Richez (Freeport, N.Y.) recorded his first career hat trick in leading the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team to a 9-3 victory over Air Force in a Great Western Lacrosse League. It was the second straight win for the 18th-ranked Irish who improved to 3-5 overall and 2-0 in the GWLL as they wrapped up a two-game Colorado road trip.
Sophomore Dan Berger (Phoenix, Md.) extended his scoring streak to eight games as he scored twice in the contest, while senior John Flandina (West Islip, N.Y.) added a goal and an assist.
Notre Dame won for the 14th straight time in the series’ 15-game history. In the last five meetings between the two teams, Notre Dame has outscored the Falcons 60-19. The three goals were the fewest allowed by an Irish team since last season’s 13-2 victory over the Falcons at Notre Dame.
The Irish defense held Air Force, which fell to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in GWLL play, scoreless in both the first and third quarters.
Richez scored three of Notre Dame’s first four goals in the game. He tallied the lone goal of the first quarter 2:10 into the contest. He put the Irish up 2-0 on an unassisted goal at the 12:10 mark and then tallied the fourth Irish goal with 1:05 remaining. Freshman Matt Malakoff (Bay Shore, N.Y.) netted the other Notre Dame score in the second quarter as he scored off an assist from Flandina with 1:55 left to play before the break. Matthew Dudderar scored Air Force’s lone goal of the half as the Irish held a 5-1 advantage at the break.
Berger and freshman Brian Giordano (Princeton, N.J.) each added scores in the third quarter as Notre Dame built a 6-1 lead after 45 minutes of play.
Air Force’s Kevin Hill tallied the second Falcon goal at the 12:31 mark of the fourth quarter before three unanswered goals by senior Owen Asplundh (Bryn Athyn, Pa.), Flandina and Berger. Travis Wells (Severna Park, Md.) assisted on the last two Irish scores of the contest. Dudderar netted his second goal of the game with 1:29 remaining.
Junior goalie Nick Antol (Baldwin, Md.) made 15 saves in the game.
Notre Dame returns to action on Sun., April 7 at 1:00 p.m. against Butler in Indianapolis, Ind. It will be the third consecutive GWLL road test for the Irish.