The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team fell 3-2 against future Big Ten foe Notre Dame in their first-round NCAA Tournament game Saturday in Foxborough, Mass. The Gophers are now 27-16-3 all-time against the Irish.
Notre Dame advances to Sunday afternoon's Northeast Regional championship game against UMass-Lowell, which blanked Cornell.
The Big Ten champion Gophers got on the board early with Connor Reilly's first goal of the year, assisted by Brent Gates.
Minnesota struck again early in the second period, with Vinni Lettieri's power play goal just 30 seconds into the frame. Assists on Lettieri's 19th goal of the season went to Taylor Cammarata and Leon Bristedt.
Notre Dame tied the game up before the second intermission with goals by Andrew Oglevie and Anders Bjork.
The Irish scored the only goal of the third period when Bjork scored the game-winner on his second tally of the game.
Repeat Big Ten Goaltender of the Year Eric Schierhorn made 37 saves to Cal Peterson's 40.
