Massachusetts Holds On For 5-4 Win Over Notre Dame
Senior forward Steven Iacobellis posts goal and two assists for Minutemen

Senior forward Steven Iacobellis had a goal and two assists for the Minutemen
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 10:28  UMA1-0 PP Ray Pigozzi (2)Steven Iacobellis/5, Austin Plevy/5
2nd 14:15  UMA2-0 EV Niko Hildenbrand (3)Riley McDougall/3, Griff Jeszka/5
2nd 16:38  UMA3-0 PP Steven Iacobellis (2)Jake Horton/2, William Lagesson/4
3rd 1:08  NDM1-3 EV Andrew Peeke (3)Bobby Nardella/7, Jake Evans/10
3rd 4:24  NDM2-3 EV Anders Bjork (10)Connor Hurley/11
3rd 7:57  UMA4-2 PP Austin Plevy (5)Ivan Chukarov/3, Jake Horton/3
3rd 11:37  NDM3-4 PP Bobby Nardella (4)Andrew Oglevie/10, Andrew Peeke/3
3rd 12:46  UMA5-3 EV GW Ray Pigozzi (3)Steven Iacobellis/6
3rd 16:01  NDM4-5 EV Anders Bjork (11)Jordan Gross/8, Bobby Nardella/8
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Notre Dame  0044
Massachusetts  0325
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Notre Dame  471425
Massachusetts  106824
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Notre Dame (7-6-2)  1/2 4/8 0
Massachusetts (4-7-2)  3/4 2/4 0
Notre Dame Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Cal Petersen (L, 7-6-2)59:285 103619
Empty Net0:320     
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Ryan Wischow (W, 3-3-2)60:004 471021

AMHERST, Mass. - Senior forward Steven Iacobellis had a goal and two assists and senior forward Ray Pigozzi scored twice to lead Massachusetts to a 5-4 win against Notre Dame on Friday at Mullins Center.

THE BASICS:

RESULT: Massachusetts 5, No. 12 Notre Dame 4
LOCATION: Mullins Center (Amherst, Mass.)
RECORDS: Massachusetts (4-7-2, 12-5-1 HEA); No. 12 Notre Dame (7-6-2, 3-3-1 HEA)

THE LEAD: University of Massachusetts used seven points from its top line, including three power-play goals, to defeat No. 12 Notre Dame, 5-4 at the Mullins Center on Friday. In senior Ray Pigozzi's first game back from injury since Nov. 4, Pigozzi, Steven Iacobellis and Austin Plevy combined for four goals and three assists in the victory for the Minutemen.

FIRST PERIOD:

The Minutemen had the bulk of the scoring chances in the opening period and fended off a late Notre Dame power play. UMass out-shot the Fighting Irish 10-4 in the first, but the squads went to the locker room at the intermission deadlocked at 0-0.

SECOND PERIOD:

Shortly after freshman Jake McLaughlin blocked a shot off the goal line with his skate near the 12:19 mark of the second to keep things scoreless, UMass converted its first power play chance of the night. Crisp passes from Plevy and Iacobellis set up Pigozzi for an easy goal into an empty net at the back post at 10:28 to give the Minutemen a 1-0 lead. Freshman Niko Hildenbrand stretched the advantage to 2-0 when he crashed the net and put home a rebound from Riley McDougall's shot 14:15 into the period. Iacobellis then made it a 3-0 margin, flipping a feed from junior Jake Horton and sophomore William Lagesson past Cal Petersen on the power play at the 16:38 mark.

THIRD PERIOD:

The Fighting Irish wasted little time making it a one-goal game in the third with two quick tallies from Andrew Peeke and Anders Bjork less than five minutes into the period. Plevy gave UMass some breathing room, knocking a pass from sophomore Ivan Chukarov and Horton off Petersen and into the net for a power-play goal at 7:57. However, Notre Dame closed the gap back to one with a power-play goal of its own from Bobby Nardella 11:37 into the period. Pigozzi's second of the night, which came directly off an offensive zone faceoff win by Iacobellis, made it a 5-3 advantage for UMass with just over seven minutes to play in regulation. Bjork countered for the Fighting Irish once more, 16:01 into the period, but the Minutemen held off Notre Dame for the remaining four minutes of the contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- UMass' top line of Pigozzi-Iacobellis-Plevy combined for seven points (4g, 3a) in the win for the Minutemen including all three power-play goals. Pigozzi's two-goal effort marked the first multi-goal game for a UMass player this season, while Iacobellis' three points (1g, 2a) marked a single game high for a member of the Minutemen in 2016-17.

- With a goal and an assist, Plevy picked up his first multi-point game of the season and seventh of his career. He now has eight points over the past nine games (5g, 3a) and currently leads the Minutemen with 10 points on the year

- Freshman Griff Jeszka logged his fifth assist of the season to extend his point streak to three straight games. Hildenbrand's goal was his third of the season as he has scored in two straight contests.

- Horton's two assists gave the junior his first career multi-point game.

- Notre Dame finished the evening with a narrow 25-24 shot advantage. Freshman Ryan Wischow, making his third straight start, totaled 21 saves in the win (3-3-2). Petersen (7-6-2) stopped 19 shots for the Fighting Irish.

- The victory over Notre Dame marked the first win over a ranked opponent for Greg Carvel as UMass' head coach.

UP NEXT: UMass and No. 12 Notre Dame will close out their weekend series tomorrow, Dec. 3, with puck drop slated for 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center.