Russo's hat trick keys Notre Dame victory

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Robbie Russo scored three goals to lead Notre Dame’s hockey team (10-11-3, 5-2-3 in Hockey East) to a 6-1 victory over Connecticut (7-11-5, 4-5-2) in Bridgeport Sunday.

Russo, who leads all defensemen nationally with both his 11 goals and 24 points, completed the first hat trick by a Notre Dame defenseman since Frank O’Brien on Feb. 20, 1988 against Lake Forest, prior to the program fully joining the Division I ranks.

The win is also the milestone 400th of Irish head coach Jeff Jackson’s 16-year career. Jackson is the seventh active Division I coach to reach the 400 career win milestone, doing it in five fewer seasons than any of the other six. Jackson leads active Division I coaches with his .663 career winning percentage. He is now 218-136-38 in his 10 seasons guiding the Irish.

Joe Aiken, Mario Lucia and Justin Wade scored the other Notre Dame goals.

Notre Dame 1 2 3 6

Connecticut 1 0 0 1

First Period:

UC: Kasperi Ojantakanen 2 (Brent Norris), PPG, 16:16. ND: Robbie Russo 9 (Sam Herr, Anders Bjork), 19:12.

Second Period

ND: Joe Aiken 1 (Ben Ostlie), 12:33. ND: Mario Lucia 15 (Vince Hinostroza, Steven Fogarty), PPG, 18:59.

Third Period

ND: Russo 10 (Jordan Gross, Hinostroza), 2:55. Russo 11 (Thomas DiPauli), SHG, ENG, 13:09. ND: Justin Wade 1 (Jake Evans, Fogarty), 17:05.

Penalties: ND: 6 for 12 minutes. UC: 6 for 12 minutes.

Shots On Goal: ND: 41 (13-12-16). UC: 29 (12-10-7)

Goaltender Saves: ND: Cal Petersen (60:00) 28 (11-10-7). UC: Rob Nichols (59:47) 35 (12-10-13).

Power Plays: ND: 1 for 5. UC: 1 for 5.

Attendance: 4,597