Notre Dame Hockey: Irish edged 4-3 by Team USA in exhibition

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame fought back to make it a one-goal game but could not find a way to tie it late in the third as Team USA posted a 4-3 win in exhibition action to open the 2021-22 season on Sunday evening at Compton Family Ice Arena.

Junior forward Solag Bakich keyed the comeback bid with a pair of goals in the third to make it a 4-3 game. Freshman forward Justin Janicke also scored for the Irish.

In net, junior Ryan Bischel got the start and graduate transfer Matthew Galajda played the second half of the contest, with Bischel making 22 stops and Galajda totaling 14.

The Irish were 0-for-2 on the power play, while Team USA was 1-for-4.

Notre Dame opens the season next Saturday night, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. against Long Island.