The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-5-2, 2-2-1 CCHA) got contributions from just about everyone in their 5-2 home win over the Ferris State Bulldogs (4-4-0, 2-4-0 CCHA) on Friday night at the Joyce Center. Apair of sophomores who played sparingly a year ago scored their first career goals in key situations to help
the Irish to their first home win of the season.
Connor Dunlop gave Notre Dame a 1-0 lead after one with his power-play goal at 11:33 in the first.
Chris Kunitz tied it briefly for FSU 4-on-4 at 12:44 in the second, but Notre Dame took the lead for good less than two minutes later on T.J. Mathieson’s goal from Alex Lalonde at 14:19.
“Newsy [Lalonde] never gave up on the puck and I never heard a whistle so I just kept coming,” said Mathieson. “He put the puck right on my stick and I got off a hard shot that went in.”
Notre Dame’s Kyle Dolder made it 3-2 at 4:27 in the third, his first collegiate goal. “The draw came back and I blocked out my man,” said Dolder. “Tommy Galvin got to it and went down
the boards, so I just went to the net. He got off the shot and I got the rebound. I turned around on my forehand and shot it high and it went in.”
Mike Kinnie brought the Bulldogs to within one at 8:26, but two Irish goals — by Michael Chin and David Inman — put the game away late in the third.
“We had big nights from a lot of guys and you need that from everyone,” said Irish head coach Dave Poulin. “T.J. [Mathieson] had a big goal, Kyle Dolder had a key goal and Michael Chin gave us some breathing room with his goal. It was a strong team effort from everyone.”
Morgan Cey (Notre Dame) and Mike Brown (Ferris State) had 29 saves each, as the Irish outshot the Bulldogs 34-31. FSU went 1-for-8 on the power play, and Notre Dame was 2-for-10.
The Bulldogs and Irish face off again at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in the Joyce Center.
