No luck for these Irish

Hockey
Joe Meloni

Freshman James Marcou scored his fourth goal of the season with 5 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third period, lifting No. 9 UMass over No. 6 Notre Dame in the opening game of the Lightning College Hockey Classic in Tampa, Fla.

UMass will take on the winner of No. 4 Colorado College-No. 17 Rensselaer Sunday night in the championship game of the four-team tournament.

Junior Cory Quirk led the way for the Minutemen with four points on a goal and three assists. Senior P.J. Fenton had his second consecutive three assist game for UMass.

Mike Kostka scored the first goal of the game for UMass on the power play - one of three power-play goals for the Minutemen on the night. Entering the matchup, the Fighting Irish killed 92.6 percent of opponent's power plays but struggled against the Minutemen.

Sophomore Justin Braun scored UMass's second goal on the man advantage which tied the game at 3-3 late in the second period. The teams played over 14 minutes of scoreless hockey in the third period until Marcou put the Minutemen ahead.

In their last two games, the UMass power play has accounted for five goals on 10 opportunties.

Freshman goaltender Paul Dainton earned his fifth win of the season for the Minutemen, making 29 saves. Although the third period fell in favor of UMass, the Fighting Irish out-shot the Minutemen 13-6 in the period.

With 51 seconds left in the game, junior Alex Berry received a major penalty for boarding. The hit gave ND a 6-on-4 advantage in the final minute after ND coach Jeff Jackson pulled goaltender Jordan Pearce. But the Fighting Irish failed to take advantage as Dainton saved the one shot they forced in the final minute.