Aug. 22, 2006

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s and women’s soccer teams will host a preseason cookout at Alumni Field, the home turf of the Fighting Irish, on Thursday, Aug. 24. The cookout will provide a chance to meet members of both nationally-ranked squads. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the food is free while supplies last.

This will be a great opportunity for fans to get autographs and mingle with the Fighting Irish players and coaches. It is also a chance to buy a 2006 soccer season ticket package. Adult season ticket packages are $30, while youth packages are $25. Those ticket packages will gain you admittance to both men’s and women’s home matches. A `Fan Pack’, which consists of four season tickets, is available for $70.

Season tickets entitle you to admission to all regular season home games (both men’s and women’s), a soccer newsletter, a schedule poster and magnet, along with the chance to win a pair of adidas cleats or shoes. A drawing will be held during the season and 10 lucky fans will have a chance to win the shoes courtesy of adidas.

The Notre Dame women’s team went 2-0-0 in exhibition play with victories over Virginia (3-0) and Xavier (5-0). The Fighting Irish open regular-season play this Saturday (Aug. 26) against Iowa at Alumni Field. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. Notre Dame is ranked 5th in the NSCAA/adidas preseason poll, following a 22-3-0 campaign in 2005, which included a trip to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

The Irish men’s squad also went undefeated in preseason play by defeating Drake (1-0) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (2-0). The regular season gets underway with the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament this Friday (Aug. 25) and Sunday (Aug. 27). Notre Dame battles UAB at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and will take on No. 8 Creighton at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. After concluding last season with a 12-8-3 mark and a berth in the NCAA Tournament round of 16, the Fighting Irish are ranked 15th in the NSCAA/adidas preseason poll.

For more information on the preseason cookout festivity, please call (574) 631-3264 or visit www.notredamepromotions.com.

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