Irish pull away from Pioneers with late surge
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
The Irish scored seven unanswered goals in 17 minutes as Notre Dame broke open a 5-4 first half lead into a 18-7 victory over the Denver Pioneers Sunday in Colorado.
With 20 minutes left in the first half, the Irish led by just one goal. The slow start, however, did not concern captain Lael O'Shaughnessy.
"It usually takes us a little bit to get rolling but we usually pull it out," O'Shaughnessy said. "I guess it just took us until then to get into our groove."
O'Shaughnessy scored two goals in the first half and two goals in the second half to lead the Irish in scoring. The junior from Alexandria, Va., who led the Irish in goals last year with 50, also picked up an assist.
The slow start for the Irish did not surprise O'Shaughnessy either. The Irish tended to start slow last year as well.
"We have just always had a hard time starting right off the bat," she said. "But I think we started a lot quicker [Sunday] than we usually have."
Starting three freshmen Sunday also played a factor in the slow start. Although the Irish practiced in the fall and defeated Virginia in an exhibition last weekend, the Irish are still adjusting to playing with each other.
"It's just getting comfortable with each other," O'Shaughnessy said. "It takes a whole season to get comfortable with each other really."
The three freshman who did start — Angela Dixon, Danielle Shearer and Kelly McCardell — all played well for the Irish.
Dixon scored three goals and added an assist. Dixon's three goals placed her third on the team in goals — behind O'Shaughnessy and sophomore Alissa Moser who each had four.
"I was really happy for her," O'Shaughnessy said about Dixon. "I was glad she stepped up for us but she still has to get her freshman nerves out of her. She played well in practice with us so I was glad that she wasn't too scared or too nervous in her first game."
Shearer tied O'Shaughnessy for the lead in points with two goals and three assists.
McCardell, who played with the U.S. under-19 national team this summer, started on an Irish defense that yielded just 23 shots and won the groundball battle, 34-23. McCardell also picked up an assist.
In her first start after transferring from the University of Massachusetts, Irish goalkeeper Tara Durkin made 10 saves while Carrie Marshall, last year's starting goalkeeper, came in and made seven saves.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 7, 2000
