I've been looking around, trying to get some info on how the Irish pulled
off their big upset last Friday.  My only sources have been an article in
the Notre Dame student newspaper and a brief talk with my father who
attended the game.  Neither said too much.
 
All I can really make of it is that LSSU came into the game entirely flat,
taking ND about as seriously as ND football took Boston College.  Their
defense thougout the entire game was disorganized and almost lazy.  From
what I've heard they just didn't seem to take ND seriously enough to
challenge them with the hard nose defense which they usually offer.
(This is all second hand of course, if anybody thinks these comments on the
game are off base PLEASE let me know.)  LSSU led throughout the game, but
just gave the Irish too many chances to get back in it.
 
As it turned out, the Irish won 5-4 in OT.  The winning goal was VERY odd.
ND frosh defenseman Brian Welch set up a pass to center ice from deep in
his own zone.  The two Laker defensemen literally ran into each other
taking both out of the play.  This left the puck halfway between ND forward
Jamie Ling and backup LSSU goalie Paul Sass (Locher is still out I guess).
They both went for it.   Apparently, Sass actually slid for the puck trying
to knock it away, but Ling managed to direct it past him and into the open
net.
 
Now, on a slightly different topic, can anyone tell me why, despite all of
the disasters LSSU has had so far this year, they're still ranked so high
in every poll?  This is not meant as flame bait.  I've been a religiously
devouted LSSU fan since before I can even remember.  But they just haven't
shown the ability to get it done this year.  They had two huge games on
home ice against Michigan and Bowling Green, and blew them both.  Now a
loss to ND on HOME ice.  Even with a backup goaltender this is a shocker.
I'm assuming that we're giving Coach Jeff Jackson a chance to develop the
apparent load of talent that he's working with this year, but the Lakers
look to be digging themselves into a hole that is going to be very tough
to get out of, paricularly in the competitive CCHA.  Fourth over all
(even third in one poll) just looks too high for me - based on the hockey
team that the Lakers are RIGHT NOW, at least.
                                               James Old