Surging Irish dig in for weekend of rematches
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
Sometimes it's better the second time around. Opposing parties know each other all too well, and memories of the first meeting are fresh in mind.
It's a weekend of rematches for the Notre Dame women's soccer team as it prepares to entertain several of the nation's top teams in what promises to be a historic tournament featuring the programs the have keyed soccer's rise in the public forum.
Second-ranked Notre Dame joins the third-ranked Santa Clara Broncos, the seventh-ranked Stanford Cardinal and the ninth-ranked Connecticut Huskies to complete one of the deepest fields ever assembled for a regular season tourney.
"I think without a doubt it's the strongest field ever assembled for a tournament outside of the NCAAs," said Irish head coach Randy Waldrum. "Adidas and Keybank did an incredible job bringing together four teams that have played a major role in the evolution of women's soccer over the past 10 years."
The tournament is called the Keybank Classic, and this strength of this year's field could make the tournament just that.
The 3-0 Irish will battle Friday night with a Broncos squad that has revenge on its mind. Santa Clara suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Notre Dame in last year's NCAA semifinals. The loss ended the Broncos perfect season and cost them the national title that had almost already been conceded to them.
That loss, however, will not be the only one the Broncos will seek to avenge. After racking up two easy wins to begin its season Santa Clara was stunned at home by Washington 2-1. The loss ended the Broncos' 45-match regular season win streak.
Waldrum was not pleased to see the Broncos lose.
"I wish they wouldn't have lost. Now a win is even more important to them. They have some extra motivation and they really didn't need any after last year," he said.
Waldrum realizes that his teams' upset win nearly a year ago will serve as motivation to the Broncos, but doesn't feel it will take on a life of its own.
"I think any time two top teams play each other, they're going to try to beat each other up. They'll be fired up as it is," Waldrum said.
Similar to a Notre Dame team, which was hit hard by the graduation of an outstanding senior class, Santa Clara lost a great deal of talent from the squad that came ever so close to playing for the national title. Graduation claimed All-Americans Mandy Clemens, Jacqui Little and Nikki Serlenguwho, all of whom were key players in last year's title run. The Broncos are also without Danielle Slaton who is playing in the Olympics for the U.S. National Team for the season's first month. Looking to fill the void is highly touted sophomore Aly Wagner, the team's leading scorer.
Waldrum's troops are still looking for the proper formation as they prepare to march towards the national title. After losing so many players to graduation, Waldrum has been experimenting with numerous freshmen, forever tinkering, always looking to insert them into the right role. What is certain is that senior All-American Anne Makinen is the team's leader. Who her co-stars will be is uncertain. Freshmen Amy Warner played spectacularly against Providence, scoring three times, and looks promising. Waldrum also points to a classmate of Warner's, Amanda Guertin, as an impact player of the future.
"Amanda is going to be one to watch," Waldrum gushed. "She's so sophisticated around the goal. She's going to be big for us."
The Irish will have to come up big in order to withstand this weekend's onslaught.
After attempting to corral the Broncos the Irish will try to fly with the Cardinal, an undefeated squad that Waldrum feels could be the team to beat.
"If I had to pick a favorite, I have to go with them," Waldrum said. "They didn't lose much and they have a great freshmen group."
The Cardinal will also look to exact a measure of revenge on the Irish, after falling 1-0 in the third round of last year's NCAA Tournament.
Stanford has yet to allow a single goal after blanking St. Mary's and Wisconsin by scores of 4-0 and 2-0 respectively.
The brightest feather in the Cardinal cap is freshmen Marcie Ward, a potent goal scoring threat that will look to give the Irish fits on defense.
The tournament will serve as a barometer for each team, allowing them to see exactly how well they match up against the nation's best. Waldrum is excited.
"It's our toughest competition so far, and it's just going to be a great atmosphere," he said.
Waldrum is hopeful that the celebrated tourney will be well attended.
"It's such a great thing for our campus and our community, I hope people come out to watch," Waldrum added.
All Sports Stories for Friday, September 8, 2000
