Notre Dame hockey: Early hole too much for Irish

DULUTH, Minn. -- Minnesota Duluth scored three times in a 3:25 span in the first period and led from start to finish Saturday to hand Notre Dame its first loss, 4-1, in front of 6,257 at AMSOIL Arena.

Joe Basaraba, Caleb Hebert, Dominic Toninato and Kyle Osterberg scored for UMD while Austin Wuthrich had the lone Notre Dame goal, scoring on a power play in the third period.

The Bulldogs out-shot the Irish, 30-20, including 14-3 in the first period. The loss drops the second-ranked Irish to 5-1-0. Minnesota Duluth improves to 3-2-1.

Freshman Chad Katunar got his first collegiate start in goal for Notre Dame and was hit with a barrage of shots in the first period. Minnesota Duluth built a 3-0 lead, scoring three times in a 3:25 span.

Basaraba started the scoring at 14:24 when he lifted a back-hander from the slot past a screened Katunar to make it 1-0. Tony Cameranesi set up the play as he forced a turnover along the right wing boards. The UMD goal marked the first time that Notre Dame trailed in a game this season.

FIRST PERIOD

UMD: Joe Basaraba 2 (Tony Cameranesi), 14:24; UMD: Caleb Hebert 1 (Kyle Osterberg), 14:33; UMD: Dominic Toninato 1 (Alex Iafallo, Carson Soucy), 17:49.

Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes; UMD: 1 for 2 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD

UMD: Osterberg 2 (Herbert, Willie Raskob), 10:35.

Penalties: ND: 2 for 4 minutes; UMD: 2 for 7 minutes.

THIRD PERIOD

ND: Austin Wuthrich 2 (T.J. Tynan, Vince Hinostroza), PPG, 13:22

Penalties: ND: 3 for 6 minutes; UMD: 2 for 4 minutes.

Shots On Goal: Notre Dame 3-13-4-20; Minnesota Duluth 14-7-9-30

Goaltender Saves: ND: Chad Katunar (20:00) 11; Steven Summerhays 6-9-15; UMD: Aaron Crandall 3-13-3-19. Power Plays: ND: 1 for 7; UMD: 0 for 6.

Attendance: 6,257.