Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Michigan State splits with Notre Dame

The home team won each game last weekend as Michigan State fell at Notre Dame Friday night, but rebounded for a shutout Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.

Jeff Lerg (right) made 28 saves, but the Spartans could only muster a goal from Bryan Lerg in Friday's 4-1 defeat. Noah Babin's goal in the first period snapped Lerg's scoreless streak at 104:45, dating back to last Tuesday's game against Ferris State.

Saturday night at home, Michigan State got a 25-save shutout from Lerg - his second in two weeks - to post a 2-0 victory over the Fighting Irish. Bryan Lerg and Tim Crowder potted goals for Michigan State, which remains unbeaten on its home ice this season (5-0-1) and is now 6-3-1 overall, 4-3-1 in CCHA play.

"I thought for this game we found that you can't be afraid to name a game `a big game," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "That's what we talked about - if we want to finish in the upper part of the league and to be legitimate, this is one of the better teams and we had to say `OK, this is one of the games we have to win.' It doesn't end your season if you don't win, but I was impressed with the way we came out. We played very, very solid."

The loss snapped Notre Dame's unbeaten streak at nine games (8-0-1) and dropped their overall mark to 9-2-1, and gave the Irish their first loss in CCHA play (4-1-1).

The Spartans venture to Yost Ice Arena to play Michigan tonight.

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