GalleryGallery: Teammates consoled Michigan Wolverines goaltender Hayden Lavigne (30) after he allowed the game winning goal by Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jake Evans (18) in the final seconds of Thursday night's game.
From Mel Pearson’s vantage point, the play appeared relatively harmless.
“It didn’t look like it was going to amount to much,’’ the Michigan coach said, describing Notre Dame’s rush toward the Wolverines’ net in the final seconds of Thursday’s NCAA semifinal. “I thought the game was going to overtime.’’
But Notre Dame has made a habit recently of winning games in dramatic fashion, and the top-ranked Fighting Irish added to their lore with a 4-3 victory at Xcel Energy Center. Jake Evans took a pass from Cam Morrison, charged down the slot and beat Wolverines goalie Hayden Lavigne with 3.7 seconds remaining, putting the Irish into Saturday’s championship game against Minnesota Duluth.
The Irish (28-9-2) had to rally from an early deficit, falling behind 2-0 on a fluky goal that struck a Notre Dame defenseman and ricocheted past goaltender Cale Morris.
They maintained their composure behind a magnificent performance from Evans, who finished with two goals and an assist to lead Notre Dame into the title game for the first time since 2008. The Irish never have won an NCAA title.
From Mel Pearson’s vantage point, the play appeared relatively harmless.
“It didn’t look like it was going to amount to much,’’ the Michigan coach said, describing Notre Dame’s rush toward the Wolverines’ net in the final seconds of Thursday’s NCAA semifinal. “I thought the game was going to overtime.’’
But Notre Dame has made a habit recently of winning games in dramatic fashion, and the top-ranked Fighting Irish added to their lore with a 4-3 victory at Xcel Energy Center. Jake Evans took a pass from Cam Morrison, charged down the slot and beat Wolverines goalie Hayden Lavigne with 3.7 seconds remaining, putting the Irish into Saturday’s championship game against Minnesota Duluth.
The Irish (28-9-2) had to rally from an early deficit, falling behind 2-0 on a fluky goal that struck a Notre Dame defenseman and ricocheted past goaltender Cale Morris.
They maintained their composure behind a magnificent performance from Evans, who finished with two goals and an assist to lead Notre Dame into the title game for the first time since 2008. The Irish never have won an NCAA title.
