HOCKEY: Irish lose chance at CCHA
By MATT ORENCHUK
Sports Writer
Going into this weekend's series against Western Michigan, the Notre Dame hockey team held their own fate: win and the Irish would be in the CCHA playoffs. But it was not to be for the Irish as they lost 7-2.
A sellout crowd showed up at the JACC on Saturday for senior night. While the crowd was enthused by the pregame ceremonies, the game proved to be a major disappointment for Notre Dame. Western Michigan capitalized on numerous Notre Dame penalties to defeat the Irish. Bowling Green beat Ferris State in other CCHA action. The Notre Dame loss coupled with the Bowling Green win propelled the Falcons into the final CCHA playoff spot, and left the Irish home to contemplate the season.
In the first period of Saturday's game, the Irish could not capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. Western Michigan took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Ryan Crane at the 12:48 mark of the period. Crane was able to slip a rebound past Irish goalie Jeremiah Kimento for the score.
"The failure to capitalize in the first period was the game." Irish coach Dave Poulin said. "I thought we played with a lot of confidence in the first period, but we didn't get it done."
The second period found the Notre Dame defense asleep. Western Michigan scored 20 seconds into the period to further their lead to 2-0. The Broncos put two more goals on the board, and the second period ended with Western Michigan leading 4-0.
In the third, Aaron Gill finally got the Irish on the board with a goal 3:09 into the period. The teams then played even hockey until a three-goal burst in a two-minute period made the score an embarrassing 7-1. Notre Dame got one back with 54 seconds left in the game when Sam Cornelius scored to make up the final score of 7-2.
"It was a disappointing end to a disappointing year," said Poulin.
Notre Dame would not have been in their position on Saturday without winning on Friday night. The Irish went into Kalamazoo and defeated Western Michigan 5-4. Notre Dame was lead by junior David Inman, who had a goal and two assists in the winning effort. Captain Ryan Dolder scored the game-winning goal with 7:40 left in the third period.
The abrupt end to the season hit the team extremely hard especially for the seniors. Notre Dame had made the CCHA playoffs each of the past three seasons. The current Notre Dame seniors were still in high school the last time the Irish were not a participant in the CCHA postseason.
Notre Dame was unbeaten in their last six games (4-0-2) entering Saturday's contest, and it appeared their late season surge would be enough to get them into the playoffs.
But as the teams were skating off the ice, the score of the Bowling Green game was announced, ending Notre Dame's playoff hopes.
"I don't know how to describe [the end of the season]," senior left wing Dan Carlson said. "Everything we worked for the entire year is done."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 6, 2001
