Oct. 27, 2001
Storrs, Conn. – The 20th-ranked Notre Dame men’s soccer team saw its six-game win streak snapped on Saturday night as the Irish suffered a 1-0 setback at 10th-ranked Connecticut before 3,349 fans. The loss also ended a string of five straight shutouts for Notre Dame.
Damani Ralph provided the game’s lone goal 15:03 into the contest for the Huskies in a contest that statistically was dominated by the Irish. Notre Dame, which fell to 9-5-0 and 6-3-0 in the BIG EAST, outshot Connecticut (10-3-2 and 5-1-0) 13-5 in the contest and owned an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Heading into the game, Notre Dame had not given up a goal in more than five games and spanning over 500 minutes. Prior to Ralph’s goal, the last opponent to score against the Irish was Georgetown at the 52:58 mark of the eventual 3-1 Irish victory. The 20th-ranked Notre Dame men’s soccer team saw its six-game win streak snapped on Saturday night as the Irish suffered a 1-0 setback at 10th-ranked Connecticut before 3,349 fans. The loss also ended a string of five straight shutouts for Notre Dame.
Damani Ralph provided the game’s lone goal 15:03 into the contest for the Huskies in a contest that statistically was dominated by the Irish. Notre Dame, which fell to 9-5-0 and 6-3-0 in the BIG EAST, outshot Connecticut (10-3-2 and 5-1-0) 13-5 in the contest and owned an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Heading into the game, Notre Dame had not given up a goal in more than five games and spanning over 500 minutes. Prior to Ralph’s goal, the last opponent to score against the Irish was Georgetown at the 52:58 mark of the eventual 3-1 Irish victory.
Heading into the game, Notre Dame had not given up a goal in more than five games and spanning over 500 minutes. Prior to Ralph’s goal, the last opponent to score against the Irish was Georgetown at the 52:58 mark of the eventual 3-1 Irish victory.
Notre Dame had a couple of scoring opportunities, but its best chance came midway through the first half when leading scorer Erich Braun (Frankfurt, Germany) blasted a free kick from the top of the box that hit off of teammate Kevin Goldthwaite (Sacramento, Calif.). Braun saw his six-game goal-scoring streak come to end as the junior forward was held without a goal for the first time since Notre Dame dropped a 1-0 decision to Seton Hall on the road on Sept. 29.
Connecticut goalkeeper Bryheem Hancock played extremely well for the Huskies and came up six saves in goal. Rookie Chris Sawyer (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) did not have to make a save in the game.
“We’re obviously disappointed in the final result, but I think our players went out competed very well,” first-year head coach Bobby Clark said. “We were very competitive and executed our gameplan through the entire contest. Connecticut is a well-organized team who is very difficult to beat when they play at home.
“It was an entertaining BIG EAST soccer game and one that was great for the fans to see. I was pleased that our players were not intimidated by the atmosphere. We’re hoping to have the opportunity to come back here and play in the league championship.”
Notre Dame returns to action on Tue., Oct. 30 when the Irish play host to IUPUI at 7:00 p.m.
Scoring: UC: Damani Ralph, 15:03.