ND WOMEN'S SOCCER: Irish host No. 3 Huskers
By JEFF BALTRUZAK
Assistant Sports Editor
In the most important game the Notre Dame women's soccer team's short season thus far, the No. 4 Irish take on third-ranked Nebraska in a showdown of collegiate soccer heavyweights tonight at Alumni Field.
If anything, tonight's contest will answer questions for the Irish. Though it enters the game at 5-0-1, Notre Dame has not shown much brilliant play over the first weeks in the season, barely eking out games against less-touted opponents, including this past weekend's game against Villanova, where the Irish took almost 25 minutes of overtime to finally put away the over-matched Wildcats.
Nebraska has recently rung up huge victories over lightly-regarded Northern Iowa and Evansville. The Huskers did, however, take down top-ranked North Carolina in an exhibition match Aug. 25.
Irish head coach Randy Waldrum knows that his team must pick up their level of play to beat the Huskers.
"We've got Nebraska coming in here on Tuesday, and we have to play better if we're going to have a chance against them," said Waldrum after this weekend's games. "Somebody really needs to step up and lead this team if we want to get where we need to be."
Irish senior captain Mia Sarkesian described Nebraska's style of play as "direct." The Huskers will not try to finesse Notre Dame, and their "attacking" style will require the Irish to concentrate on their focus.
"We need to come out with intensity," said Sarkesian. "We need to play quickly."
The Irish have been practicing to counteract the aggressiveness of the Huskers with discipline and skill.
"We've been definitely preparing for them," said Sarkesian. "They're constantly kicking and pressuring you."
To effectively contain the Nebraska offense, the Irish will need to tighten up on defense. The back line is still looking for a cohesive set up among the Irish's many talented defenders, including junior Vanessa Pruzinksy and senior captain Lindsey Jones, and Notre Dame has given up several goals as a result of defensive lapses rather than by strong play by opponents.
The Irish will have to contain Husker forwards Meghan Anderson and Christine Latham, who have combined for 21 points this season, including eight goals.
More importantly, the Irish need to come out of the gate playing their best soccer — Nebraska has scored 13 of their 17 goals this season in the first half.
Waldrum might have a trick or two up his sleeve for the Irish defense.
"We might be playing a different formation," said Sarkesian. "He's talked about a couple different things."
Still, the Irish are one of the nation's consistently elite teams, comprised of athletes that know how to prepare physically and, more importantly, mentally, for important games.
"I think we're ready [mentally] for Nebraska," said Sarkesian. "That's the one thing we have always done in my four years here, we prepare for big games."
END
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, September 25, 2001
