ND Womens Soccer: Irish take to road against conference foes
By: JOE LICANDRO
Sports Writer
Sometimes winning is simply not enough. Just ask the Notre Dame womens soccer team.
Last weekend, the No. 9 Irish recorded two home victories against conference opponents Rutgers and Seton Hall, but winning those games does not tell the whole story.
After Sunday's game, Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum was extremely upset with his team's effort on the field.
"Everybody's got to get on the same page and get a commitment level to what we're doing," Waldrum said. "Until we do that, every game is going to be like this. We've got a difficult schedule. These are the types of games we need to win by five or six."
The Irish (6-2, 2-0 in the Big East) begin the walk down the difficult part of their schedule this weekend when they play at Villanova (5-1-2, 1-1) on Friday and at Georgetown (7-3, 2-0) on Sunday. Both of these games will be important factors in determining the final standings of the Big East's Mid-Atlantic division.
In last Friday's match against Rutgers, the Irish needed some clutch saves by freshman goalkeeper Erika Bohn and an incredible goal by forward Amy Warner in the second overtime to finally put away the Scarlet Knights.
Sunday's performance against the Pirates was not much better. Even though Notre Dame outshot the Pirates 13-2, the Irish were lucky to escape with a 1-0 win. Had it not been for midfielder Randi Scheller stepping in front of Pirates forward Jo Ann Flanagan's wide-open shot from 10 feet in front of the goal, the game probably would have ended in a 1-1 tie.
"We played terrible," Irish captain Amy Warner said. "We need to improve in all aspects of the game. We need to be much quicker to the ball and play smarter. We are not as mentally tough as we need to be."
The lone bright spot for Notre Dame last weekend was the play of its defense. Despite playing without injured starters Vanessa Pruzinsky and Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, the Irish did not surrender any goals.
Mary Boland, who just converted to defense from midfield only two weeks ago, was named the Big East Defender of the Week. Bohn was named the Big East Goalie of the Week after recording the first two shutouts of her career. Notre Dame is hoping their defense continues their top-notch play against this weekend.
"Everyone is starting to get more comfortable on defense," Chapman said. "We're starting to learn how to communicate a lot better on the field. We need to play well again this weekend."
After scoring five goals in the final 25 minutes against Maryland two weeks ago, the Irish offense fell flat last weekend scoring only two goals against two of the weakest defenses in the Big East.
"It's been really tough," Warner said. "We know we have the talent out there, but we just are not getting results. At this point, everything that could be said has been said.
"Now, it's just a question of us going out there and doing it on the field. Villanova and Georgetown are much tougher than last week's teams so we know we have to play better."
Notes:
u Notre Dame will again play without starting defenders Pruzinsky and Gunnarsdottir. Pruzinsky has appeared in only one game all season due to a severe knee injury. Gunnarsdottir has been sidelined with a stress fracture in her foot. She is expected to be back in two to three weeks. Kim Carpenter and Boland have replaced them in the starting lineup.
u Starting midfielder Ashley Dryer is also expected to miss this weekend's action due to an ankle injury she sustained against Rutgers. Freshman Maggie Manning replaced her in the starting lineup last weekend against Seton Hall.
u Warner was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week for her dramatic overtime goal against Rutgers on Friday.
All Sports Stories for Friday, September 27, 2002
