Sports

Men's Basketball: Squad readies for final exhibition

After a dominant performance in the season-opening exhibition against Quincy on Monday, the No. 22 Irish take on Cardinal Stritch on Friday in the final regular-season tune-up.

Fencing: Squad travels for tourney

After a solid performance at last weekend's Notre Dame Invitational, the Irish will be participating in their second exhibition tournament of the year this weekend as they will join nine other schools in the 41st Penn State Open.

ND Women's Soccer: Squad compete for Big East title

After a full season of trying to help his young team mature and perform on a championship level, Irish coach Randy Waldrum and No. 20 Notre Dame have finally arrived on that stage, as they'll look to take home the Big East Championship in East Hartford, Conn., this weekend.

Irish Insider Live, Week 9: Pittsburgh

Men's Soccer: Team heads to Big East tournament

The No. 7 Irish will hit the road for their Big East tournament opener when they travel to Syracuse to face the Orange in the conference quarterfinals Saturday.

Head-to-head: Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh

PANTHERS PASSING He may not be the top quarterback Notre Dame has faced all year, but redshirt senior quarterback TinoSunseri has been a model of consistency for the Panthers. Sunseri has started 34 consecutive games for the Panthers and ranks fourth in Pittsburgh history with 7,501 passing yards. Sunseri has thrown for 2,199 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. The redshirt senior comes into his second meeting with the Irish ranking eighth in the country and first in the Big East in pass efficiency with a 164.8 rating. Sunseri carries an active streak of 143 pass attempts without an interception. His last interception came in a 35-17 upset win over No. 13 Virginia Tech on Sept. 15. His 283-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Hokies earned him Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors. In a 47-17 win over Temple on Saturday, Sunseri threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns on 20-for-28 passing. In the last six games, Sunseri has completed 71 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and 1,682 passing yards, for an average of 280.3 yards per game.

Making it count

Last December, the process began. Tyler Eifert filled out the NFL Draft evaluation paperwork and endlessly ran through both scenarios in his head. To return or leave, that was the grueling question.

Chryst stabilizies rocky Pittsburgh program

It seems like the head coaching position at Notre Dame has gone through an inordinate amount of upheaval since the last time the Irish were 8-0, with three coaches in less than a decade. But what Pittsburgh has gone through makes the coaching carousel at Notre Dame seem tame.

Notre Dame to reload at tight end with Heuerman

With current Notre Dame senior tight end Tyler Eifert eligible to enter the NFL Draft at the end of the 2012 season, the Irish are set to replenish the talent pipeline at the position after the April commitment of ESPN300 recruit Mike Heuerman.

Allen: Eifert holds key to offensive success (Nov. 2)

Welcome to a three-game mini-season inside the 2012 football season. Three games, three inferior opponents and three chances for a crushing loss that derails national championship dreams.

Staff Predictions: Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh

Allan Joseph Editor-in-Chief

Jones evolves into consistent performer

For two years, junior receiver T.J. Jones stood in the shadows as Michael Floyd rewrote the Irish record book. Amidst heartbreak and sporadic play, Jones never emerged as a viable threat behind the NFL-bound talent.

Niklas adjusts to new position

At 6-feet-7, 260 pounds, sophomore tight end Troy Niklas is a big guy, even for football. His monstrous size has made way for a historic nickname - Hercules.

Eifert continues tradition of great tight ends

The tradition of elite tight ends at Notre Dame is one that stretches as far back as the 1970s. Along the way, the program has produced Super Bowl champions and NFL Hall of Famers at tight end. But NFL Draft expert Scott Wright said current Notre Dame senior tight end Tyler Eifert has the potential to be one of the best the school has ever produced.

Casper moves positions, becomes Hall of Famer

In 1970, Dave Casper was a freshman at Notre Dame. He was pushed around in practice, simply "meat" for the upperclassmen and trying to survive.

SMC Volleyball: Belles finish season

For the Belles, an up-and-down season finale weekend started with a tough loss to No. 2 Calvin on Friday, as the team lost 25-10, 25-20, 25-16.

Hockey: Experienced goalies will lead Notre Dame

As the No. 7 Irish enter a tough stretch in their schedule - seven straight games against four different ranked opponents, including three top-10 teams - the man in net will become especially important. Junior goaltender Steven Summerhays will be called upon to anchor the Irish as they traverse the dangerous waters.

Football: Irish stay focused and prepared

Following a program-defining 30-13 win at then-No. 8 Oklahoma, the No. 3 Irish will now play with realistic national championship hopes in front of them when they take on Pittsburgh at home Saturday.

Men's Interhall: Last-minute players motivate Fisher victory

Fisher 27, Carroll 6 By ALEX WILCOX Sports Writer Just minutes before kickoff against Carroll on Sunday, it appeared Fisher would have to forfeit for not having enough players. At the very last minute, though, two more players showed up and the Green Wave (3-1) never looked back, dominating the Vermin 27-6.

Fencing: Freshman Kiefer acclimates to ND

Despite being a Division I women's fencer and the youngest player on the 2012 United States Olympic fencing team, freshman Lee Kiefer is going through the same struggles as most college freshmen.