EAST LANSING– No. 4 Michigan State Hockey rolled the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 8-3 on Friday night. 

The Spartans didn’t budge after allowing the first goal of the game, MSU bounced back and entered the second period with a 2-1 lead, then chaos happened.

Two minutes into the second period, Notre Dame tied the game at two with a goal from sophomore forward Danny Nelson, his second of the night.

Less than a minute later, Spartans junior forward Joey Larson scored on the power play to give MSU a 3-2 lead. Larson had the Spartans most recent power play goal on Oct. 26 against Canisius. 

Notre Dame junior defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico leveled the score at three with an impressive bar-down goal to get past Spartans’ sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine. 

But the Spartans wouldn’t waver, responding just 13 seconds later, as junior forward Charlie Stramel tipped in a shot from the point past Notre Dame junior goalie Owen Say, then the Spartans would re-take the lead 4-3. 

Even that wasn’t enough for the Spartans, 92 seconds later, junior forward Karsen Dorwart netted his first goal of the season, getting “the monkey off his back,” as MSU senior captain Red Savage said.

“I think they know not to say anything because I’d get pissed,” Dorwart said. “We have a great group. We’re really close. I think the guys are really excited for me and I appreciate that.”

To recap, in the first ten minutes of the second period, there were five goals scored and eight penalty minutes. 

Spartans head coach Adam Nightingale preached to his team to keep playing their game and not get worried about the score.

“Just stay with it right and don’t chase, chase the game. Just keep doing it the right way and believe over time, if you do it the right way, it doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to score, but I think it does help you get closer,” Nightingale said.

Dorwart would get his second of the game in the third period off another power-play, the seventh of the game.

Later in the third, freshman forward Mikey DeAngelo scored his first career goal, ending the night early for Say, who allowed seven goals on 32 shots.

“He can really skate, and he’s competitive, he’s just gotta make sure that comes out every shift,” Nightingale said. 

The last time Michigan State scored eight goals in a game was against Long Island University on Oct. 22, 2022– Nightingale’s first season as head coach. 

The Spartans will look to follow up this performance and secure the sweep against Notre Dame, on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.