Prd | Time | Team | Score | Type | Scored By | Assists |
1st | 16:16 | CON | 1-0 | PP | Kasperi Ojantakanen (2) | Brent Norris/4 |
1st | 19:12 | NDM | 1-1 | EV | Robbie Russo (9) | Sam Herr/6, Anders Bjork/5 |
2nd | 12:33 | NDM | 2-1 | EV GW | Joe Aiken (1) | Ben Ostlie/1 |
2nd | 18:59 | NDM | 3-1 | PP | Mario Lucia (15) | Vince Hinostroza/15, Steven Fogarty/8 |
3rd | 2:55 | NDM | 4-1 | EV | Robbie Russo (10) | Jordan Gross/12, Vince Hinostroza/16 |
3rd | 13:09 | NDM | 5-1 | SH EN | Robbie Russo (11) | Thomas DiPauli/14 |
3rd | 17:05 | NDM | 6-1 | EV | Justin Wade (1) | Jake Evans/8, Steven Fogarty/9 |
Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
Notre Dame | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Connecticut | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Shots on Goal | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | SOG |
Notre Dame | 13 | 12 | 16 | 41 |
Connecticut | 12 | 10 | 7 | 29 |
Team Stats and Records | PP | PIM | SHGF |
Notre Dame (10-11-3) | 1/5 | 6/12 | 1 |
Connecticut (7-11-5) | 1/5 | 6/12 | 0 |
Notre Dame Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
Cal Petersen (W, 6-8-2) | 60:00 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 28 |
Connecticut Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
Rob Nichols (L, 6-11-5) | 59:47 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 35 |
Empty Net | 0:13 | 1 |
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Notre Dame senior defenseman Robbie Russo recorded a hat-trick to lead the Fighting Irish past the UConn Huskies 3-1 Sunday afternoon in a Hockey East match-up from Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. The Huskies got their lone goal from freshman Kasperi Ojantakanen (Helsinki, Finland) in the loss.
The Huskies drop to 7-11-5 overall and 4-5-2 in Hockey East with the loss while Notre Dame improved to 10-11-1 overall and 5-2-3 in the league. The Huskies closed out a five-game schedule at the Webster Bank Arena on Sunday, finishing 2-3-0 playing in Bridgeport this season.
UConn grabbed a 1-0 lead at 16:16 in the first period as Ojantakanen gave the Huskies the lead with a power play goal. Sophomore Brent Norris (Nepean, Ontario) cycled the puck to Ojantakanen who carried into the high slot and whipped a wrist shot through traffic, off the post and in for his second on the year and a 1-0 lead.
The Irish were able to answer before the first period ended as Russo struck for his first of three goals on Sunday to start a run of six-unanswered goals. Sam Herr fed the puck to Russo at the point and the senior defenseman unleashed a wicked slap shot that found its way past a screened Rob Nichols (Dallas, Texas).
Notre Dame tacked on two more goals in the second starting at the 12:33 mark. The Irish forced a turnover along the boards in the UConn zone and the puck deflected off of Ben Ostlie's skate to Joe Aiken in the right circle who beat Nichols with a wrist shot for his first collegiate goal. Notre Dame closed out the period with a power play goal at 18:59 as Mario Lucia took a pass at the right post and banged in a rebound of his own shot for a 3-1 Irish lead.
Russo gave his team a 4-1 lead with his second goal at the 2:55 mark of the third. Fellow defenseman Jordan Gross fed Russo in the point for a one-timer that he blasted just under the bar for a 4-1 advantage. UConn looked as if they might cut it to 4-2 just seconds later but a apparent tip-in goal by Evan Richardson (Nanaimo, British Columbia) was waved off for a high stick. The play was reviewed and the call stood.
The Huskies pulled Nichols after Aiken was called for a cross check at 12:56 looking to get a spark with a 6-on-4 power play. To no avail as Russo completed the hat-trick but firing into the empty net at 13:09 to give his team a commanding 5-1 lead. It was Russo's 11th goal on the season. The Irish tacked on a sixth goal at 17:05 coming from Justin Wade, his first collegiate goal.
Notre Dame outshot the Huskies 41-29 in the win while both teams finished 1-of-5 on the power play. The five goals given up by Nichols matched his career-high for goals allowed. Freshman Spencer Naas (Minnetonka, Minn.) saw his goal streak end on Sunday at five-straight games.
The Huskies will be back in Hockey East action next Saturday, January 24th when they travel to Boston College. Opening face-off is slated for 7:05 pm.