University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Notre Dame
Gophers Fall to Irish in Series Opener
11/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
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Nov. 8, 2013
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The final two unbeaten teams in Division I men's college hockey fell on Friday night including No. 1 Minnesota. The top-ranked Gophers dropped a 4-1 nonconference battle to No. 3/4 Notre Dame at Compton Family Ice Arena, giving Minnesota its first loss of the 2013-14 season.
In their first trip to South Bend since 1980, the Gophers (5-1-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten) allowed just one even-strength goal in Friday's series opener but surrendered a pair of power-play goals as well as an empty netter to seal the win for the Irish (7-2-0, 1-1-0 Hockey East).
After a scoreless first period, Bryan Rust's power-play goal at 1:58 of the second period put the Irish up by a goal early only for Ben Marshall to even the score at 1-1 minutes later at 6:48 with his second tally of the season. Marshall's even-strength goal was set up by Hudson Fasching and Sam Warning. Notre Dame would get out of the second period with a one-goal lead though as Sam Herr notched the eventual game winner at 16:54 with assists from Vince Hinostroza and Steven Fogarty.
The Irish would tack on an early third period goal from Garrett Peterson at 3:14 of the third before finding an empty netter from Jeff Costello at 19:09 (assisted by Stephen Johns).
Adam Wilcox suffered the loss for Minnesota, making 29 saves to fall to 5-1-1 on the season while Steven Summerhays moved to 7-1-0 with the win after a 31-save performance.
The Gophers and Irish close out the nonconference series tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT. The Saturday night finale is available on NBCSports.com with radio on 1500 ESPN.
-Pride on Ice-
