Mens Soccer: Four Irish goals sink No. 6 Pirates in shutout
By: BRYAN KRONK
Sports Writer
Using its successful formula from last season, the mens soccer team once again used a combination of tough defense and high-powered offense to topple sixth-ranked Seton Hall Saturday, 4-0.
"We don't look at the rankings much, but anytime you get a chance to compete with a good Seton Hall team it's a plus," Irish coach Bobby Clark said. "And anytime you get a shutout is a plus as well."
The win marks the first time the Irish have defeated the Pirates since 1998. The shutout victory marks the second straight year in which Notre Dame has held its season-opening Big East opponent scoreless. Last year, the Irish clobbered a struggling Villanova team, 5-0.
This Seton Hall squad brought more talent to Alumni Field than last year's Wildcats squad, however. The Pirates entered the match coming off a last-minute 3-2 upset of Big East power and fifth-ranked Connecticut last weekend.
And the Pirates were not going to hand this game over to the Irish, as Seton Hall aggressively defended Notre Dame's offensive attack in the first half.
Nevertheless, Notre Dame's solid fundamental play allowed them to get on the scoreboard first. Midway through the first half, Irish midfielder Kevin Goldthwaite launched a pass from the left corner which found forward Rafael Garcia open in front of the Seton Hall net. Garcia promptly deposited the ball in the back of the net to give the Irish a 1-0 lead.
Goldthwaite continued his offensive assistance in the second half. After Irish midfielder Chad Riley faked an indirect kick from just outside Seton Hall's penalty area, Goldthwaite booted a perfect pass to teammate Justin Detter, who redirected the ball past the Seton Hall goalie to give the Irish a 2-0 lead with 32:10 left to play.
Frustrations began to mount for the Pirates just a few minutes later as Erich Braun scored a goal off a breakaway pass. After the goal, a scuffle broke out inside the Seton Hall goal. The result of the conflict was an ejection of Seton Hall's Jerrod Laventure, who had already received a yellow card late in the first half.
"Seton Hall was a feisty team tonight, but it was good that we were able to compete with them," Clark said. "I thought that we kind of let them back into the game [after getting out to an early lead] … [but] once we scored the third goal I knew it was set."
Just minutes later, Braun notched his second goal of the game — and fourth of the season — on another breakaway along the left side, this time from a high pass from Riley. Braun's chip shot went just over the Seton Hall goalie and into the net for Notre Dame's 4-0 lead.
The lopsided score allowed Clark to give some valuable playing experience to Notre Dame's substitutes, as the Irish played all but five of their 23 offensive players.
"[Tonight] was a good opportunity to get some of our younger players who don't usually get into the game a run," Clark said.
Clark decided to keep sophomore goalie Chris Sawyer in goal for the duration, allowing Sawyer to collect a full shutout victory, recording two saves on the night.
The Irish have six days before their next match, which will take place Friday as part of the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament. The Irish will face Cornell at 7:30 p.m. before a Sunday match against No. 23 Furman.
All Sports Stories for Monday, September 9, 2002
