Notre Dame Blanks Mercyhurst 4-0

Courtesy of mercyhurst Sports Information

Dayton, Ohio - #7/#8 Notre Dame snapped a scoreless tie with three second period goals and went on from there to defeat Mercyhurst 4-0 Saturday in the consolation game of the annual Lefty McFadden Tournament. The Lakers, 2-1 losers to Ohio State Friday, are now 0-2 in the young season. Notre Dame, which bowed to Wisconsin 4-1 Friday, ended weekend play at 1-1.

The Irish broke on top early in the middle period when senior forward Mark Van Guilder scored on the power play against freshman netminder Ryan Zapolski. Zapolski made his collegiate debut after junior transfer Matt Lundin was shaken up in a 46-save, 2-1 setback to Ohio State Friday night. Notre Dame cashed a second power play goal three minutes later when sophomore winger Ryan Thang lit the lamp. ND finished its 3-goal second period on an even strength tally by junior forward Garrett Regan late in the frame.

The Irish completed the scoring in the first minute of the third period when Van Guilder notched his second of the game.

Notre Dame outshot Mercyhurst 37-25 as junior Jordan Pearce recorded the shutout. The Fighting Irish converted 2 of 8 power plays while the Lakers were blanked in five chances.

Notre Dame and Mercyhurst hadn't played each other in 17 years. The Irish now lead the all-time series 4-0.

Mercyhurst will play its third ranked opponent in as many games next weekend when it travels to Maine for a pair of contests against the Black Bears. Maine is ranked 12th in USCHO.com and 15th in USA Today.