Irish finish regular season undefeated with Michigan win
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
In a fitting end to a near-perfect regular season, the top-ranked Notre Dame women's soccer team scored a 5-1 victory on the road over the Michigan Wolverines Tuesday to finish a season unbeaten (17-0-1) for the third time in school history.
Five different players scored for the Irish, who rebounded from their first setback of the season, a 0-0 tie at UConn on Saturday.
Inspired by the return of freshman Amy Warner, who had missed seven previous games due to injury, the Irish struck early, determined to put this one away early. Senior forward Gonzalez, making her first start of the season, and co-captain Anne Makinen, who wasn't even supposed to play with a slight knee injury, combined for the first score. Gonzalez took a pass from Makinen, then followed her own shot before knocking in the rebound in the game's 17th minute to give Notre Dame a 1-0 lead.
The Irish extended their lead off a beautifully executed corner kick minutes before the half. Senior forward Meotis Erikson sent an arching ball from the left corner allowing junior midfielder Mia Sarkesian to score off a header from six yards out to make the score 2-0.
With the game seemingly in hand, the much-heralded freshmen class took over. First-year player Randi Scheller came off the bench to score two goals in a 20-minute span in the second half, the first off a give-and-go feed from classmate Amanda Guertin.
Though it was only an insurance goal, Amy Warner's late tally may have been the game's most important. Warner created a stir, checking in for the game's final 20 minutes, her first action in a month, and then promptly announced her triumphant return by beating the defense down the right side before sending a low shot past the Wolverine keeper.
Warner's return is crucial for the Irish, whose offensive attack missed her speed.
Michigan's Marie Spacarrotella beat sophomore goalkeeper Sani Post, who relieved starter Liz Wagner after 70 minutes, to break up the shutout. The goal prevented the Irish from tying a team record for goals allowed in a season (5), a mark set by the `97 squad.
The win enabled the 2000 Irish women to grab a place in history alongside the `94 and `97 teams as the only squads to complete a season without a loss.
After dominating the Wolverines, the Irish head into postseason play on a high note. The return of Warner and the unexpected presence of Makinen in the lineup signal the return of a potent offense that had been silenced of late.
The Irish will now prepare to weather the Hurricanes of Miami who blow into town Sunday for a Big East quarterfinal showdown
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, October 25, 2000
