Oct. 6, 2012
Highlights/Bobby Clark Postgame Interview
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A second straight two-goal performance by senior forward Ryan Finley helped propel the No. 10 Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a 3-0 win over No. 3 Georgetown in BIG EAST Blue Division play on Saturday afternoon at a crisp Alumni Stadium.
Notre Dame (10-2-0, 2-2-0) opened the scoring in the eighth minute when senior midfielder Dillon Powers sent a corner kick into the box and after the ball was batted around in front of the goalmouth, junior forward Alex Priede deposited his third goal of the season.
The Fighting Irish produced several other good chances in the opening half. Priede almost netted a second goal in the 15th minute as he placed a shot just wide right from 15 yards away. Finley threatened in the 21st minute, but his shot from 16 yards out went wide to the left.
Georgetown (10-2-1, 2-2-0) had opportunities of its own in the opening stanza. The first Hoya shot on goal occurred in the 26th minute when an Ian Christianson attempt from 17 yards out was saved by Notre Dame junior goalkeeper Patrick Wall. In the 30th minute, Georgetown’s Andy Riemer blasted a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, went back into play and the Irish defense negated the chance.
Notre Dame countered with solid chances of its own late in the opening half. In the 38th minute, Finley had a shot deflect off the left post and Hoya goalkeeper Keon Parsa saved the follow-up attempt by central defender Grant Van De Casteele.
Parsa had two saves in the final minute of the first half. He stopped a shot from Irish left back Max Lachowecki and the rebound went to midfielder Kyle Richard, but Parsa was there again for the save.
The Irish led 1-0 at the intermission. Notre Dame outshot Georgetown 14-8 in the first half and 24-16 for the match. The Fighting Irish had nine shots on goal in the game, while the Hoyas had four. Wall made four saves to notch his third clean sheet of the campaign and move his record to 6-0 this season. Parsa had six stops for Georgetown.
“This was a great win and a great advertisement for college soccer,” said Irish head coach Bobby Clark. “It was two very, very good teams going at it and it was an exciting match.
“Ryan Finley made some great runs today and he actually could have had a few more goals. He said at halftime that he could have had a hat trick. The big thing with Ryan is that he makes fantastic runs and as a striker sometimes you make them and sometimes you don’t. It was nice that he got a couple goals in the second half.”
Both of Finley’s goals occurred in the 66th minute. Junior forward Harrison Shipp set up the first tally when he played the ball ahead to Finley, who beat a Hoya defender and made it a 2-0 contest. On the second goal, Finley took a nice pass from freshman midfielder Patrick Hodan and drilled the ball off the crossbar and into the back of the netting for his team-high 10th goal of the season.
Finley also scored two goals in Wednesday’s 7-1 win over Pittsburgh. The senior forward has 11 career multiple-goal games, including three this season.
“Once we got that second goal we thought the flood gates might open up for us and it was nice to get that third one to ice the cake,” said Finley. “Georgetown is a really good team. Anytime you’re in a game like this, both teams are going to have their spell of the game. At halftime we said that we needed to get a second goal and once we got the second goal we knew that they would start pushing forward and we were lucky to get the third one.”
The Irish have defeated three top-10 teams this season. Notre Dame also bested No. 4 Akron (3-1) and No. 10 Indiana (1-0).
Notre Dame will return to the pitch on Tuesday at No. 22 Northwestern. The non-conference match is slated for 7 p.m. (CT) in Evanston, Ill.
Alumni Stadium – Notre Dame, Ind.
October 6, 2012
#3 Georgetown (10-2-1, 2-2-0) 0 0 – 0
#10 Notre Dame (10-2-0, 2-2-0) 1 2 – 3
Scoring: ND: Alex Priede (unassisted) 7:36; ND: Ryan Finley (Harrison Shipp) 65:14: ND: Ryan Finley (Patrick Hodan) 65:37
Shots: GU 8-8 – 16, ND 14-10- 24
Corner Kicks: GU 1-3 – 4, ND 4-4 – 8
Goalkeepers: GU: Keon Parsa – 6 SV, 3 GA, 90:00, L
ND: Patrick Wall – 4 SV, 0 GA, 90:00, W
Fouls: GU 11, ND 12
Offsides: GU 5, ND 2
–ND–