Ulrich leads Notre Dame to 16-6 victory over Denver
By JOE LICANDRO
Sports Writer
With a balanced offensive attack led by senior Todd Ulrich's season-high four goals and strong team defense, the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team dominated its 16-6 win against the University of Denver from start to finish.
Ulrich immediately got the Irish off on the right track three minutes into the game by scooping up a loose ball and shooting it past his former high-school teammate goalie Brian Berger.
Less than a minute later, Ulrich would net his second goal of the game with a blazing shot from 15 yards out.
"I've been playing well the last couple of games but my shots just haven't been going in," said Ulrich who had only three goals this season before the Denver game. "Today, I'm glad I got off to a fast start. It was a little bittersweet, though, because Brian is one of my best friends."
The Irish led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter but Denver mounted a comeback at the beginning of the second quarter with two quick goals.
After a time out by Irish coach Kevin Corrigan, the Irish made some adjustments and finished the first half with an 8-2 advantage thanks to three unanswered goals by Jon Harvey, David Ulrich and John Flandina.
"I was a little upset because we lost our concentration and had a mental lapse out there," Corrigan said. "We need to stay focused for all 60 minutes of the game."
The Irish kept up the pressure in the second half as Flandina and Ulrich each scored.
Team captain Tom Glatzel netted two of his three goals midway through the second half raising his season total to a team leading 26 goals.
With two fantastic assists, Glatzel, also a high-school teammate of Ulrich and Berger at Boys' Latin in Maryland, raised his season point total to 35.
"This was our most complete game of the season but we were a little lackadaisical at the beginning of the second quarter," Glatzel said after the game, "We can still play better."
The Irish don't have much time to celebrate their second GWLL lacrosse victory of the year, however. Notre Dame takes on GWLL foe Air Force today at 4 p.m. in the second of a critical four game home stand.
Corrigan expects another tough challenge for the Irish on Monday.
"I expect Air Force to be a tough, hard-nosed team," he said. "They will come at us for 60 minutes."
With only one day to prepare in between games, the Irish must continue to stay focused to maintain their momentum.
"Air Force will be a well-disciplined team," Ulrich said, "Since we don't have a lot of time to prepare, we can't be as concerned with what they are trying to do. We just have to concentrate on us getting better."
All Sports Stories for Monday, April 9, 2001
