NOTRE DAME, Ind. — A four-goal second period spurred a statement win for the Irish to open a new era of Irish hockey inside Compton Family Ice Arena as Notre Dame took down St. Lawrence, 8-2, Thursday night. A coach known for his offensive style of play, Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Brock Sheahan made his official debut behind the Irish bench at home. The eight-goals, which came unanswered Thursday night, mark the most by the Irish squad since a January 2022 clash with Boston College.
The Skating Saints jumped out to an early lead, notching two on breakaways in the opening minutes of play before the Irish found their offensive pressure. After letting up two early goals, the Irish peppered the SLU net in shots but could not break the netminder in the crease and trailed by two at the first media break.
A tripping call in the neutral zone saw the Irish head to the penalty box at 9:28 of the opening period. Despite skating shorthanded for two minutes, Pano Fimis, Sutter Muzzatti and Michael Mastrodomenico each saw chances at the SLU net but could not convert.
Cole Knuble picked the pocket at 15:19 of the opening period and cut the Saints’ lead in half off assists from Brennan Ali and Fimis.
The score would remain 2-1 for the duration of the period as the Irish headed to the locker room down by one after 20 minutes of play.
Early into the second the Irish looked to have evened the tally when Knuble shelved his shot over the glove of Mason Kucenski in the SLU crease but it was waved off by the referees and play continued. At the next stoppage the play was reviewed and the call was upheld, no goal.
The Irish were called for a cross-check at 11:18 of the second and were tasked with skating a man-down once again. The Saints won the ensuing draw but Danny Nelson tipped a pass into the neutral zone and raced up ice with Carter Slaggert on his wing for a chance on net. His shot, backhanded, sailed high as the Irish continued to try to close the one-goal deficit.
The team managed to kill off the rest of the cross-checking and spark an offensive push which saw Evan Werner knot things up with his first goal in an Irish sweater.
Another cross-checking call plagued the Irish late in the second period as they were forced to kill off their third straight penalty at 15:13 of the middle frame.
The game-tying goal proved to be what the Irish needed as they poured on four goals in a matter of five minutes to close out the period and take a 5-2 lead into the third period.
The offensive surge continued in the third, outshooting their opponent 20-4 in the final 20 minutes and scoring three more times for the 8-2 final.
Cole Brown and Evan Werner both found the back of the net for the first time in an Irish sweater Thursday night, with Werner capitalizing on an open door sho, beating the Saints’ netminder blocker side to tie the game up. Brown’s tally came at 11:55 of the third when the rookie forward batted in his own rebound to make it a 7-2 game.
KEY STATS
- Caeden Carlisle and Cole Brown each tallied their first collegiate points in the team’s home-opener Thursday. Carlisle registered the primary assist on Danny Nelson’s eventual game-winning tally at 17:22 of the second before Brown found twine for the first time halfway through the third.
- Evan Werner notched his first career goal with the Irish while adding three assists to his scoresheet, matching his personal best.
- With 14 draws at the face-off circle, Pano Fimis went 13-1 for a 92.9-percent count as the Irish finished the night at 63.6-percent.
- Six individuals boasted multiple points on the night, led by Werner’s four points off a goal and three assists. Axel Kumlin (1-2-3) and Cole Knuble (2-1-3) each registered three points in the contest while Danny Nelson (1-1-2), Henry Nelson (1-1-2), and Paul Fischer (0-2-2) all tallied two points.
- With a goal in the final minute of the second period, Sutter Muzzatti now owns three goals on the season and leads the team in the category.
UP NEXT
The Irish close out the weekend series against the Saints Friday night with a 7pm puck drop slated inside Compton Family Ice Arena as part of a six-game homestand.
The team returns to their home ice next weekend when they host Robert Morris, Oct. 24-25.