Coach's death overshadows season
By KERRY SMITH
Sports Editor
Marred by the unexpected death of Irish head coach Mike Berticelli in January, the men's soccer team faced a year of wins and losses on and off the field.
In 10 years at the helm of Notre Dame's soccer program, Berticelli earned a 104-80-19 record and led his team to three NCAA tournament appearances and one Big East conference championship, while passing the century mark in wins in his final campaign.
"It was awful — it was the worst thing that most of the guys on the team faced in their lives," said former assistant and newly-appointed head coach Chris Apple of Berticelli's death. "It was a very emotional time and still is — and as difficult as it is to find a positive from this, it is that this ordeal has brought us closer together."
Berticelli's death left a black mark on a year that produced many highlights on the playing field.
Compiling a 8-9-3 record on the season, the Irish relied on a handful of key seniors for a solid foundation, while getting a spark from several underclassmen.
Seniors Gerick Short in goal, defender Matt McNew, midfielders Jason Jorski, Peter Bandera and Matt De Dominicis and forwards Andrew Aris and Ryan Cox provided the framework.
"During the seniors' freshman year, they achieved more than any other team had in the program's history with a trip to the final 16 of the NCAA tournament and a Big East championship win," Apple said. "They made an immediate impact and continued to do so throughout their careers."
Short, a fifth-year senior started in all 20 contests and earned a goals-against average of 1.20 and a .752 save percentage in his first and final year as the starting Irish goalkeeper.
McNew, the undisputed anchor of the Irish backfield combined quick play and scrappy defense to hold Notre Dame's opponents to just 93 shots in 20 games, while helping the Irish offense to deliver more than double that number of shots on opponents' goals.
But the Irish had trouble capitalizing on their opportunities.
"We struggled all season to finish and find the back of the net," Apple said. "We were in the top 10 in the country for shutouts, but we just struggled to score."
Aris and Cox, who split for four goals, struggled to score, but still exerted a commanding presence on the field. Aris tallied five assists, finishing second on the team in that category. Both of Cox's goals were game winners.
The Irish offense was bolstered by a successful season by freshman forward Erich Braun. Braun, earned Big East Rookie of the Year honors and led the Irish with nine goals and six assists.
The Irish started the season strong with a 3-1-1 record, with wins over Northwestern, Boston College and Cleveland State. But then they dropped three straight. A 5-0-1 streak in mid-season brought their record to 8-4-2, but then the Irish finished the year in a six-game winless slide.
Despite the late-season slump and loss in the first round of the Big East tournament to cap the `99 campaign, Apple is pleased with the team's season.
"Regardless of wins or losses we achieved our No. 1 goal of making it to the Big East tournament," he said.
While losing a strong senior class could hurt the Irish next year, Apple is optimistic about his squad's chances in the coming season.
"We have a great group of freshmen coming into the program — possibly the best recruiting class ever," he said. "They might not be able to replace the maturity and leadership that our seniors provided but they will bring a whole new and exciting element to the team."
All Sports Stories for Friday, May 19, 2000
