Northern Michigan University’s David Keefer skates for the net in the first period in a CCHA game played against Ferris State on Feb. 25 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame had the last surge of momentum and that helped carry the Fighting Irish to a 5-4 college hockey victory over visiting Northern Michigan University on Sunday evening.

The Wildcats (3-3) were outshot badly 47-26 but were still tied 3-3 with 2 1/2 minutes to go.

That’s when ND (2-1-1) got over the hump, scoring goals 1:15 apart to take a 5-3 lead, allowing the Fighting Irish to withstand one last final gasp when NMU’s Connor Eddy scored his first goal with Northern with 39 seconds remaining.

Before that, the teams had wild swings of momentum before the Irish completed the weekend sweep after winning 3-1 on Friday night.

The Wildcats opened the scoring as Kristof Papp scored his first as an NMU skater 8:14 into the game. His unassisted goal held up for nearly nine minutes before ND’s Grant Silianoff scored the equalizer with 2:58 left in the first period.

But the Irish needed just 66 more seconds to take the lead on a shorthanded tally by Solag Bakich.

ND took control early in the second, making it 3-1 on a goal by Ryder Rolston fired in low and left past Northern goalie Beni Halasz, who took over to start the period for Charlie Glockner.

But started coming back, getting within one almost exactly four minutes later on an Artem Shlaine goal assisted by Joey Larson and Papp. But NMU still trailed 3-2 after two.

The Wildcats finally tied it with 8:20 remaining when Northern’s Andre Ghantous scored. He got his stick on the puck to redirect it, according to an account from NMU Sports Information. David Keefer and AJ Vanderbeck got assists.

But the Irish retook the lead with 2:18 left off the stick of Drew Bavaro on a power play.

ND added an empty-netter with 1:03 to go, making Eddy’s late goal not mean much.

Halasz finished with 31 saves in 33 shots over the final two periods.

After its opening-weekend CCHA split with Bowling Green State, NMU will play its third consecutive nonconference series this weekend, this time at the Berry Events Center in Marquette when Alaska-Anchorage comes to town for games at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.