Minutemen visit Irish for two-game series
By BILL HART
Associate Sports Editor
While the academic semester is drawing to a close, the Notre Dame hockey team still has a little bit of cleaning up to do before exams.
On Friday and Saturday, the Irish take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in a two-game series at the Joyce Center.
The series marks the start of a month-long, six-game, non- conference schedule for the Irish. Apart from a pair of games against Michigan State last weekend, Notre Dame has not played a CCHA game in 55 days, something that's been frustrating for a few members of the Irish squad.
"Yes, [it's difficult]," freshman center Connor Dunlop said about the non-conference stretch. "But at the same time, we realize that we've had a limited amount of playing time. We realize that the those CCHA games at the second half of the season are going to be crucial."
The Minutemen sport a 3-7-2 record and a two-game losing streak after being swept at the hands of rival Boston University last weekend. In the final of the series against the 10th-ranked Terriers, Minuteman Jedd Crumb tied the game at three at six minutes, 23 seconds into the third period. UMass held out until 17.4 seconds remained in overtime, when BU scored on a scramble in front of the crease.
The defeat keeps the Minutemen winless in the Hockey East, despite a career-high 30 saves from starting goaltender Mike Johnson. The team is 0-6-1 in conference play.
Notre Dame and UMass have met only twice on the ice. During the 1994-1995 season, the teams held a two-game series at Amherst. The Irish won the first game, 6-3, before losing an overtime game, 4-3.
Notre Dame currently is tied for ninth place in the CCHA with Bowling Green. The CCHA standings, however, are very tight with just six points separating Notre Dame and third-place Michigan.
"It's been kind of a weird season," Dunlop said about the standings. "A lot of the lower teams are winning some games they're not supposed to. But its just shows how competitive the league is this season."
Strong goaltending from an unlikely source — freshman Tony Zasowski — has allowed Notre Dame to come back from a 0-4-0 start in the CCHA. The first freshman to start since Matt Eisler in 1994, Zasowski has already notched two solo shutouts — the second Irish goalie to do so in the same season — as well as conference rookie of the week honors.
"He's been real strong for us," Dunlop said about Zasowski's play. "He's made some key plays, big saves and just come through for us when we needed it, like in that win against Michigan State."
Following the graduation of three top scorers from last season, the greatest struggles for the Irish have been on offense. The team has allowed an average 2.6 goals per game, slightly lower than last year's average. Their total 36 goals (2.3 per game), however, falls behind last year's pace of 58 goals at the 16-game mark in 1998-1999.
Still, some sources in the lineup are providing the team with a needed boost. Dunlop is currently tied for third on the team in scoring with eight points and four goals, while senior left wing Andy Jurkowski has eight points in his last 11 games, already surpassing his career season high.
Sophomore center David Inman, after a 10-goal, 10-assist season last year, has seven goals this season.
"I think we're on the right track," Dunlop said. "Our confidence is high after the tough weekend. I think the season's turning around."
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, December 8, 1999
