TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Cam Morrison scored 13 seconds into overtime to lift the fourth-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s hockey team to 1-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Fighting Irish improve to 10-3-1, while the Engineers drop to 2-7-3.
Morrison (Aurora, ON/Youngstown Phantoms) redirected a shot from the right point past RPI freshman netminder Linden Marshall (Victoria, BC/Trail Smoke Eaters) for his fourth goal of the season to send Notre Dame off with a series sweep. Sophomore Andrew Peeke (Parkland, FL/Green Bay) and senior captain Jake Evans (Toronto, ON/St. Michael’s Buzzers) earned the assists on the game-winner.
Despite a 25-9 advantage in shots over the first two periods, scoring chances were hard to come by at both ends of the ice.
The Engineers picked up their play early in the third period and eventually drew back-to-back penalties on the Fighting Irish. During the 1:33 of 5-on-3 power play time, senior captain Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) turned in RPI’s best opportunity to score, but his shot from the top of the circle found the crossbar, before ricocheting out of danger.
RPI wound up with a 16-7 shot advantage in the third period, leaving Notre Dame with a 34-25 edge overall in the contest.
Marshall (1-2-1) finished with 33 saves, while Notre Dame sophomore goaltender Cale Morris (Larkspur, CO/Waterloo Black Hawks) stopped all 25 shots he faced for his second career shutout, improving to 9-1 on the year.
The Engineers are back in action on Friday, when they face No. 8 Clarkson at the Friendship Four Tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Puck drop is scheduled for 10am ET. Notre Dame hosts No. 7 Minnesota for two next weekend.
