Junior midfielder Michael Podgajny netted a career-high four goals and added two assists in No. 11 Notre Dame's 11-8 win over Penn State Sunday.
Freshman attacker Will Yeatman added two goals and an assist. Senior attacker Brian Hubschmann tacked on two goals.
The Irish found themselves down 2-0 early, but responded with five straight goals to make the contest 5-2 in the second quarter. Notre Dame never gave up the lead at this point to the Nittany Lions.
Sophomore attackers Ryan Hoff and Alex Wharton each had a goal and an assist, and senior midfielder Lucius Polk also scored one goal.
"It was good to win the game," Polk said. "It's really nice to start out the season 2-0. Penn State is a good team.
"There are high expectations for seniors on this team. We are all glad to lead the upperclassmen."
Notre Dame (2-0) entered halftime with a 6-3 lead. The Irish started the third quarter by scoring four straight goals en route to a 10-3 score. However, the Nittany Lions did not lie down. They netted the next five goals of the game to cut the deficit down to two goals at 10-8 with over six minutes to play. With the game still in the balance, Podgajny secured the Irish victory late in the fourth quarter by scoring his fourth goal.
Pat Heim had three goals for Penn State (0-2) while Gil Pearsall netted two of his own. Chris Hogan, Rob Forster and Matt Loy all scored once for the Nittany Lions. Adam Kenney and Max VanArsdale added an assist each.
Notre Dame continues its five stint away from home by playing No. 7 Cornell March 3 in Hewlett, N.Y. Notre Dame fell to Cornell last year by a tally of 9-6. The Big Red are 1-0 this season after an impressive 19-4 win over Binghamton this weekend. The game will be played this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Notes:
uJunior goaltender Joey Kemp played most of the game for the Irish, saving 11 shots while letting in seven goals. He was credited with the win. Sophomore Scott Rodgers saw his first action of the year, making one save and gave up one goal for the Irish in over two minutes of play.
uNotre Dame led in shots this game by a tally of 37-35.
uSophomore midfielder Taylor Clagett won 14-of-21 face-offs in the victorious effort.
