Irish win thriller at Bradley
By CHRIS FEDERICO
Sports Writer
The men's soccer team finally had a close game go their way as the Irish snuck away from Peoria, Ill., with a 3-2 victory against the No. 19 Bradley Braves (4-3-1).
The deciding goal came for the Irish with just 2:47 remaining in regulation when junior Andreas Forstner knocked in a penalty kick for his first goal of the year.
"It was a very exciting game that also had a very good result," head coach Bobby Clark said about the team's first win against a ranked opponent in four tries. "There was a great feeling to this game. There was a nice crowd and a very good atmosphere."
The Irish got on the board first in the eighth minute as junior Justin Ratcliffe deflected in a corner kick from midfielder Chad Riley.
"The credit for this goal goes to Chad Riley," Clark said. "He's been making some tremendous corners lately, and this one was just a great kick."
Notre Dame held its 1-0 lead through the first half, but quickly gave up the tying goal early in the second. With just about a minute off the clock, Bradley forward Gavin Glinton took a pass from teammate Craig White and drove the ball across the net.
The quick score was eerily similar to the one that the Irish gave up early in the second half to Rutgers that seemed to turn the tide in that game.
"A minute into the second half, we conceded a goal that Bradley got sort of lucky on," Clark stated. "They looked a bit offside, but the referee let play go on. But the boys stuck with it, and they showed a lot of character at that point to get back into the game."
The Irish regained the lead at the 54:05 mark on a long throw-in from freshman Kevin Goldthwaite. Justin Deeter headed the ball forward to Erich Braun, who knocked in the team's second goal.
"Erich got the ball from Justin and made a great shot on goal to put it in the net," Clark said.
Three time All-American Glinton, who gave the Irish trouble last year by scoring two goals in Bradley's 3-1 victory, tied the game at 2-2 in the 61st minute with his second goal of the game.
With just under three minutes left, Bradley defender Thando Dzowa took down an Irish player, giving Notre Dame a penalty kick. Forstner beat Bradley goalkeeper Nate Adams with a low shot to the left corner of the net to score the game winner.
The victory evens Notre Dame's record at 3-3 for the season.
Bradley set a new attendance record with 1,346 fans at the game.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, September 26, 2001
