SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame completed the opening weekend sweep over Niagara, defeating the Purple Eagles by a score of 4-0 in front of a packed crowd inside Compton Family Ice Arena on Friday evening.
Nicholas Kempf was the first star of the game, posting a 24-save shutout to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Evan Werner scored his first two goals of the season to go along with goals from Pano Fimis and Will Belle.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was scoreless after the opening 20 minutes of play, as neither the Irish or Purple Eagles were able to find the breakthrough goal in the first period.
Notre Dame killed multiple penalties in the first period to keep the contest at 0-0 heading into the first intermission
The Irish offense came alive in the second period, scoring twice to open a 2-0 lead over the visitors.
Danny Nelson was the catalyst to the opening goal, as the senior picked up a loose puck just inside Notre Dame’s defensive zone and carried it down the left before picking out Werner, who crashed the crease and scored to break the deadlock at the 13:25 mark.
Just over two minutes later the Fighting Irish doubled their lead, this time off a shot from distance from Fimis. Jimmy Jurcev passed to the sophomore, who unleashed a shot from just inside the blue line for the goal.
The Irish did a great job of controlling the final 20 minutes of regulation, limiting quality scoring opportunities. In the final three minutes Notre Dame tacked on two more goals, as Belle and Werner each added empty netters.
ND NOTES
- The Irish improve to 5-1-1 against Niagara in the all-time series
- The shutout is the first of the season from Kempf and the second of his career
- Kempf finished the weekend with 50 saves while allowing just one goal for a save percentage of .980
- The two goals were the first two for Werner this season and he now has 36 in his career
- With his first goal of the season, Fimis now has seven in his career
- Belle’s first goal of the year gives him two for his career
- Danny Klaers picked up his first career point of his collegiate career with an assist
UP NEXT
Notre Dame hits the road for the first time this season with a Friday night showdown in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as they take on No. 8 Western Michigan at 7 p.m. ET.
The Irish and Broncos will then head to Compton Family Ice Arena for the second game of the series at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17. The game will air on Peacock and fans can purchase tickets for the game here.