Irish women look to spoil No. 1 Stanford's Sweet 16
By: JOE LICANDRO
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame womens soccer team may be huge underdogs this weekend, but they sure are not worried about it. On Saturday at 10 p.m., the No. 19 Irish will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to take on No. 1 Stanford, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
"I think the pressure is really on them," defender Candace Chapman said. "They're the No. 1 team, and we're supposed to be the big underdogs. We might have struggled a little during the season, but I don't think they understand how good we really are."
"I know we're physically tough. We just need to go in there mentally tough. Even if there are tough times against Stanford, we can't break down," defender Melissa Tancredi said. "It's hard to face the No. 1 team, but right now we have the advantage. We just can't make the little mistakes because that is what has killed us all season."
After last weekend's pair of 3-1 home victories over Ohio State and Purdue in the opening rounds of the tournament, the Irish will now be facing their toughest test of the season. The Cardinal has allowed only four goals the entire season on their way to a 20-1 record. The Pac-10 champion's sole loss came Oct. 4 against perennial national power North Carolina.
In last weekend's opening rounds of the tournament, the Cardinal crushed Cal Poly 5-0 and then squeaked by California in a 1-0 overtime victory.
Notre Dame forward Amanda Guertin made a statement in last weekend's victories. The junior scored four goals and registered an assist on her way to an impressive nine-point weekend.
Guertin and fellow forwards Amy Warner and Katie Thorlakson will have their work cut out for them against The Cardinal's top-ranked defense in the country.
Stanford's back line, led by senior Katherine Harrington, gives up an average of just five shots a game. The Cardinal also possesses one of the premier goalkeepers in the country. Nicole Barnhart leads the nation with 0.19 goals against average. Despite all of these imposing statistics, Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum believes his offense can create scoring opportunities.
"They've got a good defense and a good goalie," Waldrum said. "They've kept their goals against average really low. But with what we have up front, I think we can cause them some problems. I don't know if they've gone up against three forwards like Amanda Guertin, Amy Warner and Katie Thorlakson.
"Our forwards need to be mobile for us to win the game. If we get caught just waiting around for the ball to come to us, then we'll be in a lot of trouble."
Even though the Cardinal boasts the best defense in the country, Waldrum is more worried about Stanford's high-powered offense and its big midfield. The Cardinal's starting midfielders are all taller than any of Notre Dame's starters Randi Scheller, Ashley Dryer and Mary Boland.
Pac-10 player of the year Marcia Wallis leads the Cardinal with 12 goals on the season, while midfielder Marcie Ward leads the team with 33 points overall. While these players may end up in the box score, Waldrum is most concerned with the playmaking ability of midfielder Callie Withers.
"Callie Withers is their best player. She just makes huge plays for them offensive and defense," Waldrum said.
After struggling during the early part of the season with an assortment of injuries, the Notre Dame defense has finally solidified itself with the addition of converted forward Melissa Tancredi. Last week, the junior shut down Purdue's top scorer Annette Kent, while also contributing the decisive goal with eight minutes left in the contest. Tancredi along with Chapman, Catherine Sigler and Kim Carpenter must continue their strong play this weekend.
"Our backs really need to be consistent," Waldrum said. "I think we'll be alright back there."
As Waldrum can attest when his undefeated Notre Dame team from two years ago lost in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, being the heavy favorite can be a real burden.
"Two years ago, we were undefeated and ranked number one going into the tournament. If you don't win, then you feel like you've really blown the season," Walrdum said. "The pressure is on them. If they lose to us, then they've blown their ranking and their entire season."
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 22, 2002
