Sept. 10, 2006

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DALLAS – Kerri Hanks scored twice in the second half and Molly Iarocci’s late goal capped the scoring as the top-ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team wrapped up its Texas swing with Sunday’s 3-0 win at SMU. Notre Dame (6-0-0) has opened its season with six straight wins for the ninth time in the program’s history, the fourth time this decade and the third time in the past four years. SMU, which lost by a similar 3-0 score earlier this season to North Carolina, fell to 3-2-1 for the season.

(Note: additional notes and quotes may be added to this recap later tonight, time permitting, as the Irish had a quick getaway … this game will be telecast by CSTV on Tuesday night, Sept. 12, at 8:00 and 11:30 p.m. EDT).

The Irish have played considerably better in the second half this season, outscoring the opponents 14-0 in the final 45 minutes. Notre Dame remains unbeaten despite not owning a halftime lead since the season opener versus Iowa State.

Hanks ended her rare three-game goal drought by scoring early in the second half, after a sequence set up by her own leftside corner kick. Senior defender Christie Shaner headed the ball back to the left side and Hanks ran into the penalty area before striking a one-timer into the far-right sidenetting (48:38).The goal held up as the ninth career gamewinner for the sophomore forward.

Junior forward Amanda Cinalli has drawn several penalty kicks during her Irish career and she forced another PK in the 70th minute, after battling into the top of the 18-yard box. Hanks stepped forward to take the kick and sent a rising shot to the right. Ashley Gunther guessed right and dove to her left but the ball tipped off her hands for the 2-0 lead (69:06). Hanks now leads the 2006 team with five goals for the season while pushing her career goal total to 33, still 16th in Notre Dame history but now one behind South Bend native Amy Van Laecke.

Hanks has totaled 81 career points (33 goals, 15 assists) in 31 career games with the Irish and now needs 19 points in the next eight games to reach 100 points faster than any previous player in the program’s 19-year history.

Notre Dame now has won 232 straight games when claiming a 2-0 lead and extended the second-longest scoring streak in the program’s history to 42 games. The Irish also improved to 53-5-2 all-time when playing as the No. 1-ranked team in the NSCAA coaches poll.

Freshman outside back Ashley Galovic and senior midfielder Claire Gallerano – two of six Texas natives on the Irish squad – helped set up Iarocci’s first goal of the season and second of her four-year Notre Dame career. Galovic servd the ball from the right flank and Gallerano followed with a pass from the center of the field that sprung Iarocci into the right side of the box. The senior forward then buried her shot inside the far-left post for the final 3-0 cushion (87:49).

#1 Notre Dame(6-0-0) 0 3 – 3
SMU (3-2-1) 0 0 – 0

ND 1. Kerri Hanks 4th of season/32nd of career (-) 48:38; ND 2.Hanks 5/33 (PK) 69:06; ND 3. Molly Iarocci 1/2 (Claire Gallerano) 87:49.

Shots: ND 6-9 – 15, SMU 3-2 – 5
Corner Kicks: ND 2-4 – 6, SMU 1-1 – 2
Saves: ND 3 (Lauren Karas), SMU 7 (Ashley Gunther 5, team 2)
Fouls: ND 23, SMU 13
Offside: ND 2, SMU 1