Fifth-Seeded Notre Dame Holds Off Bucknell

May 13, 2001

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Senior attackman Tom Glatzel registered four goals and one assist and junior midfielder John Flandina’s unassisted goal early in the second quarter ignited a decisive six-goal Notre Dame surge as the fifth-seeded Fighting Irish defeated Bucknell 12-7, Sunday afternoon at Michie Stadium.

Following a tightly played first quarter that featured just one goal by each team, the teams exchanged scores again early in the second stanza. Michael Cheng’s unassisted shot over the left shoulder of Notre Dame goalie Kirk Howell tied the game for the final time at 2-2 with 13:14 remaining in the second quarter.

Flandina answered with his unassisted tally just 19 seconds later, sparking a six-goal run by the Fighting Irish that carried over into the third quarter and featured goals by six different players. Devin Ryan, David Ulrich, Todd Ulrich, Glatzel and Chris Young scored during the tear, providing Notre Dame with an 8-2 advantage just 39 seconds into the third quarter.

Bucknell’s Wes Fetchet, the Patriot League Rookie of the Year, scored the first of his three goals with 12:14 left in the third frame to end the Fighting Irish run. Consecutive goals by Fetchet and Rob Lane late in the third quarter carried the unseeded Bison (10-4) to within 9-5 entering the final frame.

But Notre Dame (13-1) put the game out of reach with three straight goals to open the fourth quarter. Jon Harvey accounted for two of those scores, while Steve Bishko added the other.

Bishko was one of four Notre Dame players to record two goals apiece to lead the Fighting Irish’s balanced scoring attack. David Ulrich, Young and Harvey also found the net twice for Notre Dame, which advanced to a quarterfinal rematch against No. 4 seed Johns Hopkins next week with the victory.

Johns Hopkins eliminated Notre Dame 15-11 in a quarterfinal matchup last season. It will mark the Fighting Irish’s third trip to the NCAA tourney quarterfinals.

Patriot League champion Bucknell was making its first-ever visit to the NCAA Tournament.