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Irish host top teams at ND Invite

By The Observer · Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009

The Irish will host the 54th annual Notre Dame Invitational today, facing the toughest competition either of the undefeated Irish teams have seen this season. "Our meets get progressively more competitive, and this one is very difficult," Irish men's coach Joe Piane said. "It is better than any race we're going to be in until the pre-national meet." As one of the oldest and comparatively more prestigious meets in the nation, many ranked teams and previous champions will be vying for top spots at the Burke Golf Course on campus.  "I believe that [the Notre Dame Invitational] will be the most competitive early season meet in the country," women's coach Tim Connelly said.  In the women's division, the top-ranked reigning national champions Washington Huskies will lead the competition. Eleven other ranked teams will compete, including No. 3 Florida State, No. 6 Princeton, No. 12 Providence, No. 13 Arizona State and No. 15 Florida. "There are a number of other unranked teams who are certainly capable of being so, and will try to prove it this week," Connelly said. The Irish women's team is currently ranked 24th and will have to provide a good fight on the course today. In the men's competition, a total of 10 ranked teams will be coming to South Bend for the Invitational, including No. 11 Tulsa, No. 15 Providence, No. 24 New Mexico and No. 26 Florida State, all ranking ahead of the No. 28 Notre Dame men. The Irish look to today's event as their chance to not only establish a higher team ranking, but also to improve their resume for the NCAA Championship meet. "It is important to run well both to solidify a ranking, but most importantly because beating teams here can help solidify a bid to the NCAA meet at the end of the season," senior Beth Tacl said.  There will be five total races, a blue race and a gold race for each men's and women's divisions, depending on ability, and an open race for all others competing. Notre Dame will be competing in the blue race in each division. The women's blue race starts at 4:15 p.m. and the men's blue race begins at 5 p.m.

The Observer

Irish open home slate against 'Cats

By The Observer · Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009

Notre Dame (8-4, 2-0 Big East) will open its home conference schedule with a match against Villanova Sunday. The Wildcats (11-4, 0-2) have been very successful so far in 2009 but fell to Cincinnati and Louisville last weekend in their opening Big East matches.  "I think the Big East race goes throughout the whole season, and with them opening 0-2 … they for sure don't want to go further in that direction," coach Debbie Brown said. "They're going to be very focused." Brown said the Irish will need to be focused as well in order to overcome Villanova's biggest strength. "They're a really, really good serving team," Brown said. "We know we're going to have our hands full." In fact, the Wildcats average 2.2 service aces per set and have 138 on the season. The Irish defense averages about one service error per set.  Notre Dame faced Villanova once last year, a 3-2 loss in Philadelphia, but with an undefeated conference record so far, Brown said the team wants to keep rolling. "With us wanting to win [the conference], we're in a good place right now," Brown said. "But it's so early and we just have to make sure that we're competing at the top of our game every night." The Irish, who defeated Connecticut and St. John's last weekend, are currently second in the conference behind South Florida, while Villanova sits in 12th despite having the second best overall record. Villanova is the only team Notre Dame plays this week, an unusual occurrence for a squad that usually plays two or even three teams over a weekend. Nonetheless, Brown said the team's preparation this week was no different. "A lot of times we just watch film on whoever we're going to play first," she said. "The fact that we only play one, that's what we're going to do," Brown said. "You have to prepare for whoever your next opponent is. Sometimes you're going to have more days to do it than others, but it's pretty much the same."  The match will be Notre Dame's first Big East contest at home, a distinction not lost on Brown.  "I always prefer to play at home," Brown said. "It's a slight advantage, sleeping on our own beds. It can also be more distracting, with the home football game and all kinds of other stuff going on, but I know we would much rather play at home." The game will begin at 2 p.m. at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse.  Note: uSenior outside hitter Serinity Phillips was named to the Big East Honor Roll Monday for her role in the wins over Connecticut and St. John's. In those two matches she totaled 22 digs, 21 kills and 11 blocks, and was one block shy of a triple-double against Connecticut. "[Phillips is] playing really well," Brown said. "She's certainly one of the keys to success and definitely deserving of those type of awards. An outside hitter who's hitting over 33 percent is pretty darn good."

The Observer

Recruiting: Top prospects set to visit campus

By The Observer · Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009

Two big-time California prospects will visit Notre Dame for Saturday's game against Washington, and while the Irish would love to have both Anthony Barr and Hayes Pullard, they aren't sure where. Both Barr and Pullard are listed as "athletes" in recruiting databases, and each is capable of playing at least three positions at the college level, said Irish recruiting expert Mike Frank, who runs the ESPN-affiliated site irishsportsdaily.com. "Anthony's one of the very top players in the country, and he can play a number of positions," Frank said, including running back, linebacker and defensive end. "Notre Dame likes him for defense but I think he also might get a shot to look at tons of other positions." ESPN rates Barr as a four-star prospect and the No. 7 athlete in the country. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder suffered an injury that has limited him during his senior season, but Barr maintains major offers and a top-five of Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, UCLA and California. "I know Notre Dame wants him a great deal," Frank said. "He was one of their first offers and is just a tremendous talent." The Irish may have a leg up with Barr because of a family connection to the University. His father is former Notre Dame running back Tony Brooks, and Barr is also the nephew of former Irish running back Reggie Brooks. Barr's mother also attended Saint Mary's. "They know what it can mean for him down the road, but my experience has been kids end up just going where they want to go," Frank said. "The good news here is he has a strong interest and both [sides of the] family are in Notre Dame's corner." The Irish are also after 6-foot-2, 220-pound Hayes Pullard. The Los Angeles product could play either running back or fullback, but Notre Dame seems most interested in Pullard as a linebacker at the next level. "There really aren't many slots left at linebacker or running back, but the fact they're still bringing him in shows how much they really like the player," Frank said. "I'm not sure they really need another linebacker, but when you get a chance to get a player of this caliber, you really bend over backwards to try to get him."

The Observer

Commentary: A blowout win? Wouldn't bet on it

By The Observer · Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009

 The fall break destination of choice this year seems to be Las Vegas - a place where anyone, but especially vacationing college students, is prone to bad decisions. It is the Sin City, after all. I'm not worried that any of our classmates will steal a police squad car. I don't think any Notre Dame students will have a run-in with Mike Tyson. And I doubt anyone will wake up on the roof of Caesars Palace - where, as "The Hangover" taught us, Julius Caesar didn't actually live.  No, I don't expect to hear about any antics quite that outrageous. But that doesn't eliminate my concern that some overzealous Irish fans will follow their hearts, not their heads, and place a bet on their favorite football team. Don't do it - you'll get burned. It's not that Notre Dame isn't a good team. It's not even that Notre Dame isn't as good a team as everyone - or at least the fans and oddsmakers - seem to think. It's just that this group always seems to be in those nail-biters that, as the last three weeks have illustrated, can easily go either way. To their credit, the Irish finally demonstrated at Purdue that they could survive one of those down-to-the-wire, don't-change-the-channel games, and they did it with a hobbled quarterback and missing pieces at running back and wide receiver. That doesn't change the fact, however, that it took several losses - North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Syracuse last season, and Michigan a few weeks ago - for Notre Dame to steal a win. At this point, diagnosing exactly why the Irish always seem to find themselves in these types of games seems like a futile exercise. Even if you can attribute it to something - be it a soft pass defense, an inconsistent second-half offense or an overall lack of a killer instinct - how do you change it? That's not to say Notre Dame won't try, and of course it should. But unless the Irish somehow figure out a way to stop the run without surrendering the short pass, find the key to start the offensive ignition coming out of halftime and discover a new attitude that motivates the team to thrash opponents mercilessly, there will be plenty more contests that will come down to one play late in the game.

The Observer

Belles drop match vs. Adrian

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

Adrian broke out to an early 3-0 lead over Saint Mary's Wednesday and the Belles were never able to recover. "I thought we played below expectation in the first half and we quickly fell behind 3-0," head coach Ryan Crabbe said. "I went into this match with much higher expectations." The Belles (3-7-1, 0-1) struggled in the first half of the game allowing all three goals before the half and were shut out for the seventh time this season. With the game marking the beginning of the conference season, the Belles have found a couple more weaknesses that they need to work on to remain in the conference picture this season. "Tonight we took a step backwards," Crabbe said. "Now we have a lot of work to do in order to catch back up with the rest of the conference and have a shot at making it to the MIAA tournament." The Belles gave up their first goal of the game to Brittany Moreau in the 21st minute of the game, and a little over two minutes later the Belles gave up another goal. After a weak first half the Belles came out strong in the second half out shooting their opponent 11-9. However, the Belles were not able to capitalize on these opportunities and were held scoreless for the second straight contest. "The players do show a tremendous amount of support for each other," Crabbe said. "However, we need our players to demand more of each other when faced with adversity on the field." Senior Jessica Slean has been a pleasant surprise for Crabbe this season. Crabbe noted that she has been one of his most consistent players this season and has shown the most improvement from the 2008 season.  "She is hands down our hardest working player day in and day out," Crabbe said. "We need more players to follow her example." Senior goalkeeper Patty Duffy also had four saves in the game to increase her total for the season and continue to leave her mark on the Belles defensive unit. For Saint Mary's, it will take a lot of relying on each other to overcome their early season difficulties and find the recipe needed for success. "We know each other and the team is closer this year, but we still need to keep working to get to the point where we know for a fact that each and every one of us is going to give it their all for the team," Duffy said. "If we come out and honestly do that for every game it will be hard not to find success." Crabbe also stressed that the team needs to work on maintaining its focus and scoring goals before their next MIAA game. The Belles will face Trine Saturday beginning at 3 p.m.

The Observer

Experienced leadership catapults team to top of Big East

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

Most teams at the collegiate level from year to year have to deal with losing seniors and replacing them with untested freshmen. The Notre Dame women's golf team, however, is not facing that issue this fall. Losing only one senior from last year, Lisa Mauna, the Irish feature one of the most talented and experienced teams in the Big East. The Irish didn't pick up any freshmen this year, but rather have a starting lineup of two seniors, two juniors, and one sophomore. Leading the way is senior Annie Brophy, who is easily the most experienced player on the roster. Brophy has played in every competitive round in her Notre Dame career, which comes out to a total of more than 100 rounds of golf. "Annie came in and was a good player within the junior rankings, but I think she has just progressed nicely over the last few years and positioned herself well within college golf," Irish coach Susan Holt said. "I think her progression in her game over the years has allowed her to step into that leadership year and be one someone that people can look up to." This progression culminated in a tangible accomplishment her sophomore year, a Big East individual championship, which coach Holt described as the "turning point" in her production.  "I think she kind of validated herself as a player," said Holt. "I thought she responded well to [being the Big East champion] last year and I've been real pleased with her play so far this year. Brophy's best finish so far this season was 14th in the Bettie Lou Invitational. Junior So-Hyun Park has also provided consistent scores and quality leadership for the Irish. Park currently has Notre Dame's best career stroke average with 74.82 and recently posted the top score of four over par for the Irish at the Bettie Lou Invitational. This strong leadership is something of utmost importance for the team's success, but their experience lends itself to even more. Playing a number of the same tournaments from last season, many of the Irish players have experience on these courses. Although the Irish fielded the same lineup for the Mary Fossum Invitational as they did last year, it did not equate to improved scores. "Typically you'd like to think that having prior knowledge of a course would certainly help you prepare for an event," said Holt. "There is a mental preparation advantage to playing a course that you have seen before." The Irish will be on an even playing field with their opponents in the next tournament, as they did not have the opportunity to compete in the Windy City Collegiate tournament last year. Nevertheless, the Irish possess the necessary skill and leadership to surpass the competition. The first round of the Collegiate is scheduled to begin on Monday.

The Observer

Belles enter third round of tourney

By The Observer · Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

Saint Mary's moved up to No. 2 this week as it heads to Kalamazoo today to play in the third MIAA fall jamboree this afternoon at the Milham Park Golf Club. The Belles currently sit atop the nine-team conference after winning the first MIAA competition and finishing as the runner-up in the second. Last weekend, Saint Mary's took first in a field of 16 teams in the DePauw Small College Classic at Deer Creek Golf Club.  "Our win this past weekend was really big for us and helped push us to our No. 2 ranking in the nation in Division III," Belles captain Perri Hamma said. "We have been a strong team on and off the course and I think that is really going a long way for us." The Belles shot a team score of 315 in the first round to take a lead they never relinquished, following it up with a 320 on day two for a 635. They were 18 strokes ahead of the second place team, DePauw. Freshman Martyna Mierzwa medaled for the third time this fall with a 154 to lead the field of 99 golfers. She shot a 76 on day one and followed it up with a 79 on day two to claim the title.  Just a few strokes behind was sophomore teammate Natalie Matuszak in second for the Belles and overall with a combined 157. Matuszak had the second best score in round two with a 77 to follow up her day one round of 80.  Junior Mary Kate Boyce and senior Perri Hamma both posted scores of 162 to take a share of ninth overall. Boyce shot a 79 on day one and an 83 on day two, while Hamma shot an 80 in the first round and an 82 in the second.  Junior Rosie O'Connor tied for 27th in the event with her final score of 171 to round out the Belles top competitors. O'Connor went out with an 87 in the first round but came back with an 84 to finish the weekend. Today's event will be the third conference competition for Saint Mary's this fall. The regular season MIAA jamborees and a season-ending two-day tournament are played to determine the league fall champion in hopes of winning the automatic entrance into the NCAA tournament in the spring.  "It is important to come off this past weekend's win and go out there and win again tomorrow," Hamma said. "We have the skills to take a big step tomorrow over Olivet. With every win, we get more and more comfortable and confident in each of our games which comes across into our next rounds." Last spring, the Belles took tenth at the NCAA tournament after taking second to Olivet in the fall 2008 season. Saint Mary's is currently 11 strokes ahead of Olivet for the lead in the MIAA. The Belles won four consecutive conference championships from 2002-2005, and are looking to take back the title this fall.  "With the remaining matches this season all being MIAA matches, we need to play with confidence and hold a tight lead over the other teams," Hamma said. "If we can secure a win this fall season, it will really set us up for success this spring; a win would guarantee two of the three rounds for the conference and a spot at nationals would be at our home course."

The Observer

Football: Bowl streak snapped after late season letdowns

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Talk about a turnaround. No, not a complete 180 from the face-plant that was the 3-9 2007 season. It was a switcheroo from one extreme - a snowball-filled embarrassment of a loss to Syracuse at home on Senior Day and a blowout against USC - to the other, a honeymoon-esque escape to warm and sunny Hawaii. When the Irish took off their swim trunks and flippy-floppies and got to work, they demonstrated the totality of their shift in a 49-21 win over Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve. The bowl win, Notre Dame's first since 1994, capped a 7-6 season that saw both promise and despair. Notre Dame's start to the season had fans believing that last year's demons had been exorcized. The Irish defeated San Diego State at home, 21-13, on Sept. 6. "It's a great feeling to get the win, especially coming off of last year," sophomore receiver Golden Tate said after the game. "To get a win in the first game, we feel much more confident." Tate had six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown in the game. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 21-of-34 passes and threw three touchdowns. Notre Dame's success continued against Michigan the next week. The Wolverines' new coach, former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, was still figuring out how to run his style of offense with the players he inherited. That, plus the monsoon that drenched Notre Dame Stadium and a good Irish running game, helped Notre Dame win 35-17. During the game, junior linebacker John Ryan was shoved out of bounds and into Irish coach Charlie Weis, knocking him to the ground. Weis suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). "I'll show up as a coach, but I'll be gone for the year as a player. Tommy Brady's got nothing on me," Weis joked after the game. "I feel like an athlete. First time in my life." Sophomore running back Robert Hughes ran 19 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the game, getting a ton of carries in the downpour. Notre Dame's early-season success stopped on the road against Michigan State. The Irish lost, 23-7, largely in part to the performance of Spartans senior running back Javon Ringer. Ringer rushed 39 times for 201 yards and two touchdowns. "With Javon Ringer being such a dynamic guy, I think the one thing you needed to do was make sure you had everybody in every gap," Weis said in his Sunday post-game press conference. "And the few times in the gap where we didn't have somebody in every gap, like the one 60 yarder that he went for, was the one time if you go back and watch it you'll see there was no one in that gap where he ended up running through." Clausen threw two costly interceptions, one in the end zone and one while the Irish were driving. Spartans kicker Brett Swenson made three field goals in the game, one from 45 yards out. Notre Dame got back on track with a 38-21 win against Purdue. Sophomore running back Armando Allen carried the Irish, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown. "We went out there and showed people that we really can run the ball," Allen said after the game. "We always hear that we can't run the ball, so to go out there and run the ball effectively is great." Clausen had another good day, throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns. "I thought [Clausen] improved a lot," senior receiver David Grimes said after the game. "He was coming up to the line of scrimmage and calling plays just like Brady (Quinn) used to do. I think he grew up a lot today. I'm proud of him." Freshman receiver Michael Floyd led the Irish receivers with six catches for 100 yards. Sophomore kicker Brandon Walker, who had struggled up to this point, made a 41-yard field goal during the game. "It boosted my confidence, the coaches' confidence and the players' confidence in me, so it was a relief," Walker said after the game. Notre Dame moved to 4-1 with a 28-21 win over Stanford despite only 83 yards rushing. Clausen had his best game yet, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns while completing 72.5 percent of his passes. "We were really getting Jimmy a lot of time and keeping him off the ground, and it just got going," junior tackle Sam Young said. "Our receivers made great plays. I thought the line did a pretty good job keeping Jimmy up and keeping him clean." So then came a big chance for the Irish: A road game against a ranked North Carolina team that would cement the fact that Notre Dame had returned. But a costly second-half interception and a last-second play that almost worked doomed the Irish, who lost 29-24 in Chapel Hill. Notre Dame scored first, on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tate. The Irish led 17-9 at the half, but on the first play of the second half, Tar Heels linebacker Quan Sturdivant picked off Clausen's pass and returned it for a touchdown to make the score 17-16. Junior running back James Aldridge scored to put the Irish ahead by eight, but two North Carolina touchdowns in the final six minutes put the Tar Heels ahead by five. Notre Dame had a chance at the end of the game, but Floyd's catch came short of the end zone as time expired. Despite the loss, Weis was happy with his team after the game. "That team in that locker room today, it was the first time in a long time where I've looked in their faces against a good opponent and it was a team that really feels bad," he said after the game. "And the reason they felt really bad is because they're starting to get it." No worries, though, because after the bye week Notre Dame traveled to Seattle and trounced Washington, 33-7. Floyd scored a 51-yard touchdown pass on the first drive and the Irish never looked back. In fact, Notre Dame would have shut out the winless Huskies had Washington not threw a six-yard touchdown pass in the final three minutes. Aldridge rushed 13 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Back in South Bend after fall break, the Irish and Pittsburgh needed extra time to decide the game, but the Panthers won, 36-33, after four overtimes. Notre Dame led 24-17 with 5:38 remaining, but a late touchdown pass tied the game. Pittsburgh kicker Conor Lee and Walker traded field goals in the first two overtimes. When Lee made his in the third, Walker attempted a 48-yarder that barely curved over the lower left corner of the crossbar. In the fourth overtime, however, Walker missed a 38-yarder wide left. Lee knocked his through, and the game ended. "It's not [Walker's] fault at all that we lost," senior safety Kyle McCarthy said. "He played a great game, and he is a big reason that we stayed in the game throughout. It's the offense and defense's fault just as much as anyone's." Whatever demoralization resulted from Pittsburgh may have carried over into the next game, against Boston College in Chestnut Hill. Clausen threw four interceptions in a 17-0 loss. Boston College ran one of those interceptions back for a touchdown, and Eagles running back Montel Harris rushed for 120 yards. The Irish held Boston College to just 79 yards passing, but Notre Dame's offense could not take advantage. "The defense put out a winning performance, unfortunately that's only one-third of the composition of a team," Weis said after the game. "It took us over a quarter to get into any kind of flow." Notre Dame's record fell to 5-4 after being 4-1 at one point. The Eagles extended their winning streak over Notre Dame to six games. Notre Dame's 43-game winning streak over Navy, snapped in 2007, now stands at one. Notre Dame eked out a 27-21 win that Navy threatened to ruin in the final minutes. Notre Dame led 27-7, but Navy back Shun White broke a long touchdown run to make the score 27-14. The Midshipmen recovered an onside kick and after a long pass put them on the 1-yard line, they punched the ball in to make the score 27-21. Then they recovered another onside kick, but Irish fans breathed easy when Notre Dame's defense stopped the Midshipmen. Then came Syracuse. Not good times for the Irish, who lost 24-23 to the Orange. Notre Dame led 23-10, but Syracuse scored twice in the fourth quarter, once with less than a minute left, to win. The Irish could only muster 41 yards on the ground in the game. Against top-10 Southern California in Los Angeles, the wheels fell off. Notre Dame couldn't get a first down until the last play of the third quarter during a 38-3 loss. Then came Hawaii, and Notre Dame stomped the Warriors in their home stadium. Clausen blew the Hawaii secondary out of the water, completing 22-of-26 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. Tate had 177 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Both set Irish bowl game records. "I'm glad that we got the monkey off our back, and that we were the team that did it," senior defensive tackle Pat Kuntz said after the game.

The Observer

Fencing: Runner-up finish disappoints Irish

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

For the second consecutive year, the Irish finished second overall at the NCAA Fencing Championship and, for the second consecutive year, the Irish left the strip after having a national title snatched out of their hands. Notre Dame fell to the heavily favored Nittany Lions of Penn State, but accumulated 182 wins over the course of the four-day tournament. Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, the Irish turned in impressive performances each day of the competition on both the men's and women's sides. By the end of the championship, the squad featured 10 All-Americans and two silver medalists. "We just mobilized all the energy, everything to fight," Irish coach Janusz Bednarski said. "We had a very good season and in general, many teams wanted to be second. We are not happy anyway because we have a bigger appetite, but we have to wait until next year." But by any objective measure the Irish turned in a truly impressive season, considering the team featured 14 freshmen and missed the support of a very strong senior cast from 2008. After combining for a 14-0 record at the Notre Dame Duals in early February, the men's fencing team finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the coaches' poll at a perfect 34-0. The undefeated 2009 season is the 20th in program history and the first since 2003, while the men's win total of 34 is the highest in Notre Dame history. Not to be outdone by the men's team, the women also went undefeated at the Notre Dame Duals with a combined record of 12-0. The women's squad finished 32-2 in the regular season, tying the program-best mark in win totals originally set in 1995. Despite the lack of experience at the collegiate level, the Irish did boast some experience at the world level. Olympians Gerek Meinhardt and Kelley Hurley played an important role in developing the attitude and work ethic of the successful fencing squad. Meinhardt, a freshman foiler and the youngest male U.S. Olympian in Beijing in 2008, believes Olympic experience has immense value when translated to collegiate fencing. "Beijing will help in getting used to pressure situations," Meinhardt said in December. "It's the highest level of competition, so I'll better be able to deal with nerves that come with playing in the NCAA." In addition to the outstanding fencing of Meinhardt, who finished with a silver medal in the foil at the NCAA Championship, the core of young talent was greatly supported by first team All-American Courtney Hurley and second team All-American Avery Zuck. Hurley, a freshman and the younger sister of Kelley Hurley, finished tied for third in the epee at the championship, while sophomore Zuck finished in fifth in the sabre division. Bednarski, the only coach in Notre Dame's history to win a national title in his first season and win multiple national titles in fewer than five seasons, believes his young team is well on its way to a national title in the near future. "Each year is different because we don't know who will come to support them next year," Bednarski said. "We know that we have a core team that is very strong and very young. But anything can happen if we make it to the Bloody Four."

The Observer

Women's Lacrosse: MVP Goodman leads Irish to Big East crown

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

The Irish defeated Vanderbilt 19-13 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, and will face North Carolina this weekend in the tournament quarterfinals. "Our success has been expected and unexpected," Notre Dame head coach Tracy Coyne said. "We had some key players choose to leave the program in the beginning of the year, which made us re-evaluate our direction. The seniors, in particular, have done an incredible job in doing that and a great job in bringing the team together." Notre Dame (16-4) has had one of their most successful and record-setting seasons this year. Winning the Big East Championship for the first time was just a highlight for the 2009 Irish team. Making an impact on the team over the last four seasons are the four Notre Dame seniors: co-captains Shannon Burke and Jillian Byers, defender Beth Koulup and goalkeeper Erin Goodman. Leading the defense, Burke has a season 56 ground balls, 31 draw controls and 42 caused turnovers, a Notre Dame single-season record, as well as seven offensive points. Named to the All-Big East First Team with teammates Byers and sophomore midfielder Shaylyn Blaney, Protecting the goal for Notre Dame is the record-breaking Goodman. Not only is she the all-time winningest goalkeeper for the Irish, but Goodman has also started in 55 consecutive games, playing the most minutes overall of any Irish goalkeeper. Goodman holds a career record of 38-17 for a .690 winning percentage, and was named this year's Big East MVP. Byers is statistically the most successful player Notre Dame has ever seen. She is the all-time points leader, with 325 off of her 253 goals and 72 assists. Her 74 goals and 36 assists coming this season make her the second Irish player to ever score over 100 points in a season and are career highs. She leads the Big East in goals and point totals while ranking second nationally for points, and was named the league's co-attack of the year with Syracuse senior Katie Rowan. Byers is also the NCAA's all-time active leading goal scorer. "Individually, they [the seniors] are all outstanding competitors," Coyne said. "Looking back on the last four years and all they have learned and become, they represent the Notre Dame family well, and are all great people. They have really raised the level of competitiveness of the program. Their legacy is always looking for ways to get better, all the time." The Irish will face North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

The Observer

Men's Lacrosse: Perfection falls in first round

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Notre Dame's unbeaten season came to a screeching halt Sunday in a 7-3 loss to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament. "We're a very good team," Irish coach Kevin Corrigan said. "I'm not going to beat up our team for going 15-0. We had a great season, but we didn't play well today and therefore we lost." The Irish started off the season with nonconference wins over Loyola (Md.), Penn State, and Dartmouth. On March 8, Notre Dame notched its most impressive win of the season over then-No. 3 North Carolina. Notre Dame rolled through Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) play, winning each game by no fewer than two goals and rising as high as No. 2 in the nation. The Irish conference dominance continued in the conference tournament, which they won with victories over Quinnpiac and Ohio State. The cornerstone for Notre Dame's success this season was its defense, which allowed a nation-best 6.19 goals per game. The Irish backline was anchored by senior netminder Scott Rodgers, who led the NCAA with a 6.14 goals against average and a 0.663 save percentage. In addition to their team accomplishments, the Irish boast a number of seniors with significant individual achievements, which came to a peak during their final season on campus. In April, senior attackmen Ryan Hoff and Duncan Swezey, midfielder Peter Christman, defenseman Regis McDermott and Rodgers were all named first team all-conference in the GWLL, which the Irish have won each of the past three seasons. Furthermore, Rodgers, who leads the country in goals against average, was named GWLL Player of the Year and has been named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's top lacrosse player. "More than anything else, they did things right," Corrigan said. "They worked hard, loved each other, loved play lacrosse and represented Notre Dame in excellent fashion. They love what they're doing, love being a part of the team, and bring a sense of fun to the team." Corrigan ultimately thinks that this is the best lesson that his seniors could teach the program that they have contributed so much to in their four years on campus. "The lesson [from the seniors] is that you should do something because you love it and do it right," Corrigan said.

The Observer

Women's Basketball: Injuries end Irish season, lead to Gophers' win

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Déjà vu can be positive or negative, and unfortunately the Irish got all of the bad kind and none of the good. Notre Dame lost sophomore forward Devereaux Peters to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the same ACL she tore last February. While we're at it, sophomore guard Brittany Mallory had the same injury. But there would be no return to the Sweet 16 for the Irish, who finished 22-9 but lost to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament March 22. The Irish received the No. 7 seed in the Tournament and got a chance to play at home in the first round, but lost 79-71 to the No. 10-seed Gophers. The Irish gave up eight 3-pointers, a common problem for them all season. Five of them went to Gophers guard Katie Ohm. "Same old story, every game, we can't defend the 3-point line," Irish coach Muffet McGraw said after the game. "It was a fantastic crowd out there today and we didn't give them their money's worth." Ohm hit back-to-back 3s that acted as an early death knell for the Irish. "When Ohm hit those two back-to-back 3s that was really the gamebreaker right there," Irish junior guard Melissa Lechlitner said after the game. The Irish return every player next season, thanks to senior guard Lindsay Schrader's extra year of eligibility due to a torn ACL before her sophomore season. Peters tore her ACL during a win over Boston College on Nov. 23. Since she only played in three games, she can receive a medical redshirt. Notre Dame's start to the season boded well. The Irish began with a seven-game winning streak that included a 62-51 win over Purdue. Lechlitner scored 19 points to lead the team. The Irish suffered their first setback at Michigan, where they lost 63-59 in overtime. Notre Dame missed layups in the extra period and allowed Michigan's Stephany Skrba to score twice in a row. The Irish also lost Mallory to her ACL injury in the game. The Irish wouldn't lose again until they entered Big East play, running off seven straight victories. Included in these games was a 59-57 win over No. 20 Vanderbilt during which Notre Dame came back from down 18 points. Notre Dame outscored Vanderbilt 35-21 in the second half, led by Schrader and sophomore forward Becca Bruszewski with 12. Bruszewski scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Once Notre Dame entered conference play, however, it had difficulty mounting a winning streak like it had against non-conference opponents. The Irish defeated DePaul and Georgetown but then lost three of their next four. Marquette defeated the Irish on the road, 75-65, to start the skid. Notre Dame responded by edging St. John's 70-67 in a tough game. Schrader blocked a potentially game-tying 3-pointer to secure the Irish victory. Lechlitner had 15 points and Schrader and junior guard Ashley Barlow each had 13. Two straight losses to Villanova and Rutgers dampened the win. The Wildcats beat the Irish 55-48 on the road and sank 10 3-pointers in the process. "That's their game," McGraw said after the game. "I actually thought we did a decent job holding them to 55 points." Barlow led the low-scoring Irish offense with 11 points. Senior forward Laura Kurz had 16 points for the Wildcats. The Scarlet Knights didn't make life any easier when they visited the Joyce Center. Brittany Ray scored 26 points and Epiphanny Prince 24 in a 78-68 win over the Irish. "I thought Rutgers' two best players stepped up and played great," McGraw said. "We battled at the end. We definitely tried to fight down the stretch but it was too little, too late." Freshman guard Natalie Novosel led the team with 19 points, going 7-of-11 from field goal range. Lechlitner had 18 and Barlow added 17. This dropped Notre Dame's record to 15-4, 4-3 in conference play. The Irish alternated wins and losses for the next six games before ending the season on a three-game win streak. Schrader made sure the Irish beat Cincinnati by scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 66-50 win at the Joyce Center. "We're just sick of losing, and we're sick of talking about losing," Schrader said after the game. "We have to go out there and let our actions show." Freshman forward Kellie Watson hit two back-to-back 3s near the end of the game. No momentum for Notre Dame, however, because Pittsburgh's Shavonte Zellous scored 29 points as the Panthers defeated the Irish 82-70 on the road. Freshman forward Erica Solomon scored 14 points in the game, as did Bruszewski. The Irish got within one in the second half, but Pittsburgh went on a 14-6 run to put them away. Notre Dame spanked DePaul in the Blue Demons' house the first time around, and the Blue Demons came for revenge. DePaul had a long 3-point attempt to tie that came close, but clanged off the rim to give Notre Dame a 62-59 win during "The Pink Zone" promotion that raised money to fight cancer. "I was holding my breath. That was a pretty open shot from quite a ways out," McGraw said. "I was saying some prayers there." Bruszewski hit a baseline jumper with 50 seconds left to give Notre Dame a two-point lead and the Irish made their free throws down the stretch. She finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. No. 10 Louisville came to town next, and Notre Dame gave the Cardinals a tough challenge, but lost 71-66. Notre Dame had a 6-0 run to pull within two in the final minutes, but Lechlitner fouled Cardinals senior Angel McCoughtry as she attempted a 3-pointer. McCoughtry made all three free throws and Louisville came out on top. "When you look at us now, they're a top 10 team and we obviously are right there with them," McGraw told the Associated Press after the game. "So even though we lost I think we can draw some good things from that game." After a win on the road at South Florida, Notre Dame traveled to Storrs to face the undefeated, No. 1 team in the nation, Connecticut. The Huskies had blown out opponents all season, but the Irish stayed within 10 points in a 76-66 loss. The margin of victory tied the lowest for Connecticut on the season. Barlow led the Irish with 18 points and Schrader had 17, but four Huskies starters scored in double figures. From there, Notre Dame won out against Syracuse, Providence and West Virginia and earned the No. 5 seed and a first-round bye in the Big East tournament in Hartford, Conn. In the second round, the Irish faced No. 13-seed St. John's and, after a dismal first half, outscored the Red Storm 42-23 in the second half to win 62-45. Schrader had her seventh double-double of the season, which broke Notre Dame's single-season record for guards. "I was getting on the block more," she said after the game. "I got a lot more opportunities and I was just making them." This gave the Irish a second-round matchup against No. 4-seed Villanova, and the Wildcats used the same tools to beat the Irish as earlier in the season. They hit 10 3s on their way to a 58-47 win. Kurz had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Wildcats forward Lisa Karcic had 11 points. Siobahn O'Connor hit three of her six 3-point attempts. "We were trying to double-team Lurz because she was hurting us down low, we were sending the double team down and rotating back out defensively," McGraw said after the game. "For some reason we stopped short on her twice." Notre Dame earned the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament but lost to Minnesota. The prospects for next year, however, look positive. Schrader and Mallory will be healthy and Skylar Diggins, one of the nation's top high school guards and a senior at nearby Washington High School in South Bend, will play for the Irish. "We had seen her play and I knew she was going to be a great player," McGraw told The Observer. "She was really special and I think we could tell that right away."

The Observer

Hockey: Conference champs upended by Bemidji St.

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Led by a group of seniors that Irish coach Jeff Jackson said helped changed the culture of the program, Notre Dame followed up last year's national runner-up finish with a dominating regular season and a CCHA title that won't soon be forgotten despite a disappointing loss in the NCAA tournament's first round. "Probably 95 percent of the teams in the country would have loved to have our season," Jackson said. "It's a blemish, but it's the timing of [the NCAA loss] that hurt the most. I think winning the league and playoffs was another sign that we're making good progress." Perhaps the biggest sign of the Notre Dame (31-6-3, 21-4-3 CCHA) program's development under Jackson was the Feb. 12 announcement that the University will begin construction on a new, freestanding ice arena next spring that will be ready for the 2011-12 season. First-year athletics director Jack Swarbrick was a major supporter of the project, which had significant funding secured more than a year ago, but only recently received approval and a definite timeline for completion. "The fact that hockey has arrived on the campus is a huge thing, and we want to continue that in the next few years moving into a new building," Jackson said. Jackson has emphasized all along that while the graduating seniors won't have the opportunity to play in the new rink, it was their contributions over the last four years - Jackson's first four at Notre Dame - that helped make the dream facility a reality. Captain Erik Condra led the Irish in scoring in each of the last four years, and he was also a finalist this past season for the conference's top defensive forward honor. Condra, along with goaltender Jordan Pearce, was also one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Pearce manned the Notre Dame goal for each of the past two years after sitting behind All-American Dave Brown for his first two. But Pearce made his time count, leading the nation and setting single-season Irish records in wins and shutouts as a senior. And Jackson said his other four seniors - current Toronto Maple Leafs center Christian Hanson, Luke Lucyk, Garrett Regan and Justin White - all stepped it up for their final season and provided valuable ice time in addition to quality leadership in the locker room. "There's no question that they've put us in position to be where we are," Jackson said. "Erik Condra was consistent throughout his career, but [others] really took their game to another level." The seniors' departures will surely hurt the Irish, but the proverbial cupboard is not bare by any means. Notre Dame will likely be one of the top teams in the country in preseason polls, as one of the nation's top recruiting classes will team with a solid returning core that includes eight of last season's top 10 scorers. Among the returnees will be sophomore Calle Ridderwall, who built on a strong finish to his freshman campaign by leading the Irish with 17 goals, including 11 on the power play - one of the top totals in the country. Notre Dame will also return freshman Billy Maday, whose 16 goals put him among the nation's top newcomers. The blue line will also be strong come October, with the return of juniors Kyle Lawson and Brett Blatchford and sophomores Ian Cole and Teddy Ruth to a defense that was underrated in the shadow of Pearce's dominance and the offense's ability to put up crooked goal tallies. "There will be some adjustment, but we've got potential for a good group of leaders next year," Jackson said. "We've got some big holes to fill, but I'm hoping that some guys continue to elevate their game similar to what Christian and Jordan did this year." Notre Dame's tremendous regular season came as no surprise to most, as the Irish were a consensus No. 1 or No. 2 pick in the preseason polls. But they struggled a bit out of the gate, dropping three of their first five games - including the first two conference games at home to Miami (Ohio). Perhaps those early defeats served as a wake-up call, though, as Notre Dame then rattled off a school-best 20-game unbeaten streak that spanned nearly three months - from an Oct. 31 loss to Miami to a Jan. 30 defeat at the hands of Michigan. "We were getting production from a lot of people," Jackson said of the streak. "I think our consistency was much better than in previous years." The streak helped the Irish distance themselves from the rest of the CCHA pack and solidify one of the top two spots in the national polls, where Notre Dame was ranked for nearly the entire the season. After the Miami series, the Irish never again lost back-to-back games, running away with the league title and then taking the CCHA tournament championship with wins over Northern Michigan and Michigan. The championship game victory over the Wolverines was particularly impressive, as Notre Dame overcame a two-goal deficit and a heavily pro-Michigan crowd to score five unanswered goals and win, 5-2, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. "That's why you play 60 minutes," Jackson said after that victory. "It was just a matter of being patient enough to generate some scoring chances. Once we caught a break, it turned the tide for us." Most viewed the Irish as being poised for a deep NCAA run, but Notre Dame went up against a feisty, quick Bemidji St. team in the first round at the Grand Rapids, Mich., regional. The Beavers took control with a pair of fluky goals early in the game, and Notre Dame never recovered in a 5-1 loss that sent the heavy favorites home in shock. "To be honest, it didn't sink in for me until I was sitting in the locker room, looking around, and realized I was never going to put on this jersey again and never play with these guys again," Hanson said after the game. Though the end of Notre Dame's season came sooner than many would have liked, Jackson noted that those feelings are another indication of how far the program has come just a few years removed from a single-digit win total. "Expectations have changed for our program and I think that we left with an empty feeling to an extent," Jackson said. "To become one of the top 10 teams in the country is one thing, but to try to sustain it is a lot more challenging."

The Observer

Baseball: Improved ND closing strong

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Irish coach Dave Schrage thinks his team is playing its best baseball of the season as it prepares for the Big East tournament, which is set to begin Tuesday in Tampa, Fla. Notre Dame (30-20, 13-11 Big East) has won five of its last six games before its final conference series of the season begins today, at St. John's in Jamaica, N.Y. And in that stretch, the Irish took two of three from South Florida, the Big East's top team that had lost just two conference games all season before visiting Notre Dame. "We played really well and showed a lot of heart in all three games, coming from behind," Schrage said. "I liked how we came together and played, and we got a great spark from our seniors." No senior has given his team more sparks than shortstop and captain Jeremy Barnes, who is one of two players - along with junior center fielder A.J. Pollock - to start every game for the Irish this season. Barnes led Notre Dame in batting average (.358), home runs (10), RBIs (57) and total bases (122) heading into the weekend, and he trailed Pollock by just one for the team lead in hits. While Barnes has had the most eye-popping statistics of any of his classmates, Schrage said the constant presence of all five of his seniors - Barnes, co-captain Ryan Connolly, Sam Elam, Eddy Mendiola and Evan Sharpley - has been invaluable on a team with several young, up-and-coming stars. "They have meant a lot to us from a leadership standpoint," Schrage said. "Barnes and Connolly couldn't have been better captains, and they have all been great in the clubhouse and meant a lot to the program. We're certainly going to miss them." The Irish will certainly have an opportunity to make some waves and extend their season in the conference tournament. If Notre Dame takes two of three from St. John's this weekend, the Irish will earn the No. 4 seed in the Big East bracket after getting off to a fairly slow start. But Notre Dame has played more consistent ball of late, and Schrage said his team has shown it can play with anybody. "What's strange about this season is we've won two of three from all the teams at the top of the league," Schrage said. "We've got a lot of confidence, and I like how we're playing right now." A strong showing against the Red Storm would go a long way in preparing the Irish for what lies ahead in the Big East tournament, Schrage said. "We want some momentum going into the tournament," he said. "You want to be playing your best baseball at the end of the season." With solid starting pitching from Cole Johnson, Brian Dupra and Eric Maust, and a balanced lineup that starts with speedy outfielders Pollock and Golden Tate, Schrage said his squad may have the right pieces to make a late-season run. "In the league tournament, it's the team that plays the best for four days. That's baseball," Schrage said. "You've got to get hot, get good pitching and get some timely hits. We're going to be playing great competition, but whoever we play, our kids are going to feel like we can beat them."

The Observer

SMC Basketball: Belles' season sets record heights

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

The Belles enjoyed their greatest season in program history, coming up just short in their bid to capture the MIAA title in a tough loss in the conference finals. With a 17-10 record overall, 13-3 in conference, Saint Mary's eclipsed the school's previous record for wins in each category. The Belles also reached the championship game of the MIAA conference tournament for the first time in school history, but fell to conference powerhouse Hope 77-47 in the finals on February 28. "It means a lot to reach the MIAA championship game," third-year head coach Jennifer Henley said. "Every team in this conference strives to get there." After graduating one of the most distinguished senior classes in the program's history, Saint Mary's used a balance of veteran leadership and impact freshmen to finish with 13 wins in the MIAA, second only to Hope's 15-1 mark. The Dutchmen's lone loss came at the hands of the Belles at Saint Mary's Angela Athletic Facility in January. Henley is confident that her squad will be able to build on this season's success, and the strong freshman and sophomore classes are a testament to the program's bright future. "With each new season, we continue to try and get one step closer to the [NCAA Division III Championships]," Henley said. "Despite coming up short, making it to the championship game validates that we are moving in the right direction." The Belles will lose four seniors from this year's team: Meghan Conaty, Katie Rashid, Erin Newsom and Nicole Beier. "I am very proud of our four seniors," Henley said. "They took ownership of this team early on and are a big reason for the success we had. One of the best parts of this season for me is to watch how this team has improved since [going 2-6 in non-conference play]." Newsom earned an All-MIAA first team selection, while forward Beier received All-MIAA second team honors. Newsom finished third in the MIAA in both scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounds (7.8 ppg). Sophomore guard Liz Wade also earned conference honors, being named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in steals (3.56 spg) and finishing second in assists. Losing four seniors, especially a senior class as strong as the Belles', will hit any program hard, Henley said. "It's hard to say who will fill the roles that are seniors had this year," she said. "Each season brings a new identity. Our four outgoing seniors have set the bar high for those that follow. I am very proud of this team and all that they have accomplished this season."

The Observer

Men's Soccer: Irish shocked in second round

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

For a senior class that had reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in each of its first three seasons, a Nov. 25 season-ending loss to Northwestern in the tournament's second round was both shocking and shattering. "This group of seniors really set their hearts on the Final Four," Irish coach Bobby Clark. "I just feel so sorry for the seniors. I don't know if I've ever seen a locker room more disappointed after a game." The loss was the first - and only - at home for Notre Dame (12-7-2) after a regular season during which the Irish posted a 9-0-1 record at Alumni Field. "Even though they were disappointed, they handled it very well, they handled it like sportsmen," Clark said. "Their legacy may be that they helped next year's team. I know it's going to happen. There's going to be a team that before very long will make it to the Final Four. I don't know when, but I know it'll happen sooner than later." Not all was lost, however, for a team Clark had often called his best at Notre Dame. The Irish captured the Big East regular-season title for the second straight year, a first in the program's history. "They played very nice soccer - as nice a playing team as I've ever had," Clark said. "They're a great group, and I don't know when I've had a group with such a great attitude. All my teams have been very good, but in many ways they were a special group. They all came in very fit and worked their tails off." Walk-on defender Terry Lee epitomized the work ethic of the senior class, Clark said. He called the 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior "one of the inspirations behind this team" because of the effort he brought to practice on a daily basis. After back-to-back all-Big East selections, senior defender Matt Besler was named a preseason All-American heading into this year. He didn't disappoint, earning individual weekly conference and national honors several times throughout the season while starting every game for the Irish and being named an All-American. "A terrific senior year, but a terrific four years as well," Clark said of Besler, who was the first-round pick of the MLS' Kansas City Wizards. Notre Dame's leading scorer, senior forward Bright Dike (12 goals, 29 points), could be granted a fifth year of eligibility after not playing as a junior. Defender Cory Rellas and goalkeeper Andrew Quinn, who was Notre Dame's starter this season until suffering an injury on Oct. 29, may also apply for another year after not seeing any game action as freshmen. Whether it has some returnees or not, the nine-man senior class is one with which Clark has cherished his time. "These guys are just all terrific guys and they have been fantastic," Clark said. "I just can't say enough positive things about them."

The Observer

ND Softball: Big East champs now face NCAA Regionals

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

The Big East champion Irish head to Ann Arbor this weekend to compete in NCAA Regionals to face No. 5 seed Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Cleveland State in group play. Notre Dame defeated DePaul this past weekend 1-0 to win the conference tournament, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Senior pitcher Brittney Bargar held the Blue Demons scoreless in the championship game and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. During the course of the season, the team excelled defensively largely in part to having two stellar starting pitchers, Bargar and sophomore Jody Valdivia. "As a ball player I have completely changed," Bargar said. "Coming in as a freshman I was a pitcher that relied on throwing the ball past the hitters with a screw ball and a curve. As a senior I now rely on hitting my spots and my movement on my pitches." A recent honor for an individual player was given to Valdivia, the most current recipient of the Big East Conference Pitcher of the Week. Valdivia's 1.94 E.R.A. and 28 strike-outs from the weekend helped the Irish beat three different Big East Conference teams, Providence, Georgetown and Louisville during the last week of the current season. "I think we had a great season offensively," senior Linda Kohan said. "We made the adjustments we needed to and hit for power." Freshman third baseman, Dani Miller made a name for herself offensively this season, with three grand slams, 10 homeruns, and a .342 batting average that consistently yielded hits. Junior infielder Christine Lux also proved this season to be an important offensive asset to the Irish. Lux hit 15 homeruns and led the team in RBIs, accumulating 50 during the regular season. "We have hit more home-runs then any other Notre Dame softball team and we have also learned how to feed off of each other," senior pitcher Christine Farrell said. The improvements that the Irish have made this season in comparison to last season can be traced back to a set of talented underclassmen ballplayers. "I think all underclassmen play different roles and all of them have a chance to impact this team," Bargar said. "When [the seniors] leave, look for Katie Fleury, Christine Lux, Heather Johnson and Sadie Pitzenberger to have huge impacts as leaders." The girls saw the bulk of their major competition in the earlier games of the season. They faced many difficult opponents from other conferences, such as top-ranked Alabama and other top 10 teams in the NCAA, including UCLA, Stanford and Oklahoma. "Getting past some of the losses we took in preseason was our biggest challenge," senior outfielder Beth Northway said. "We expected more of ourselves, and I think we approached it believing that we were better than those games indicated and have spent the rest of the season working to prove ourselves as the team we are." The Irish will compete in the double-elimination regional beginning today against Cleveland State.

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Women's Tennis: Duos' success leads way through tough schedule

By The Observer · Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Posting 24 wins against only four losses, the Irish filled the spring with highlights and success. In one of the best seasons in program history, Notre Dame (24-4, 5-0 Big East) made it to the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, reeled off an eight-match winning streak, won the Big East Championship without suffering defeat and earned the fifth seed in the NCAA Tournament. Entering the season, the Notre Dame held the No. 17 ranking in the polls. The team however, had a much brighter outlook for the season. "With the bunch we had returning and two freshmen we knew could play a very big part coming in, I felt we were a top five team and a team that could contend for a national championship," head coach Jay Louderback said. The team opened the season with a convincing 6-1 victory at Ohio State. Then the team went down to Arkansas and defeated both Pepperdine and host Arkansas to qualify for Indoor Championships ranked 14th. "We knew it would be tough to qualify at Arkansas," Louderback said. "[The victory] did give a hint to what we had for the season, especially playing on the road." At the Indoor Championships the Irish exceeded many expectations. First the team defeated No. 5 Stanford 4-3, and then topped No. 4 Baylor 4-3. The Irish fell to No. 1 Northwestern in the semifinals, but a statement had been made. "It showed us how good we could be," senior captain Kelcy Tefft said. "All of us felt we had a very good team, and then we went out and proved it to ourselves and everyone else, which gave us some extra confidence." Following the defeat to Northwestern, Notre Dame rolled to eight straight victories before falling on the road to No. 7 Georgia Tech. All season long, the Irish only lost to the stiffest competition, falling in rematches to Baylor, 5-2, and closely Northwestern, 4-3. "Losing to those types of teams doesn't hurt the confidence much," Louderback said. "It's tough to go through the year playing so many ranked teams. To not lose to any outside the Top 10 is not easy." Indeed the schedule Louderback put together for the 2009 campaign was tough. Notre Dame played top 25 teams 12 times, and only lost in four of those matches. Through the whole season, the Irish faced 14 teams in the NCAA Tournament, and defeated ten of them. "It was really rough this year. We traveled a lot and Coach dropped a few teams in order to add teams like Baylor and Georgia Tech, top 10 teams," Tefft said. "That is the way I would have it. We play the top teams every year so when we get to the NCAAs we know what we have to do beat those teams." To conclude the season, Notre Dame went undefeated in Big East competition. In the Big East Championships, the Irish dominated en route to its ninth overall Big East title. "One of our goals this year was to win the Big East Championship," Tefft said. "We were glad to do that." In doing so, Notre Dame nearly swept Big East accolades. Tefft earned her second consecutive Big East Player of the Year, while freshman, and Tefft's doubles partner, Kristy Frilling was honored as Big East Freshman of the Year. Joining the two as members of the All-Big East team where juniors Cosmina Ciobanu and Kali Krisik along with freshman Shannon Mathews. "We were very deserving to have so many people on the all-tournament team," Tefft said. "We were the best team there, and had the best players there." After such thorough season long success, the Irish were selected as the fifth seed in the NCAA tournament, and hosted the first two rounds. Notre Dame defeated Illinois-Chicago 4-0 and then topped Michigan 4-1 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Irish will face No. 12 Clemson Friday at College Station, Texas.

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