Sept. 30, 2006
NEWARK, N.J. – Another two-goal performance from junior forward Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic) led the Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Lapira has notched three straight two-goal games and has five multi-goal matches on the season. His 13 tallies lead the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is now 7-3-2 on the season and 5-2-0 in BIG EAST play, while the Pirates are also 5-2-0 in the league and 7-4-0 overall.
Lapira ignited the Fighting Irish offense with a goal in the 10th minute off a cross from sophomore midfielder Cory Rellas (Plano, Texas/Plano West). The assist was the first point for Rellas in his collegiate career. This was the second straight contest in which Lapira has netted a goal in the opening 10 minutes of the game. He tallied a third-minute goal in a 4-0 win over Marquette on Wednesday.
The junior forward found the back of the net again in the 71st minute as he took a drop pass from freshman Michael Thomas (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) and deposited it into the high corner. That was the first point for Thomas in his young Notre Dame career.
The Irish out-shot the Pirates 22-19 on the afternoon, with Lapira registered a game-high eight attempts. Seton Hall held a 10-5 advantage in corner kicks. Irish senior Chris Cahill (Louisville, Ky./DeSales) stopped three shots to earn his second straight shutout and his fifth of the season to improve his record to 6-2-1 on the campaign. Seton Hall’s Paul McHenry made eight saves on the day.
The Irish return to action on Wednesday (Oct. 4) as they travel to Michigan to take on the Wolverines in a non-conference match at 7:00 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
To stay up to date on the 2006 Notre Dame men’s soccer season, please log on to und.com or call the official Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.
#17/15 Notre Dame (7-3-2, 5-2-0 BE) 1-1 – 2
Seton Hall (7-4-0, 5-2-0 BE) 0-0 – 0
ND: Joseph Lapira (Cory Rellas) 9:49, ND: Joseph Lapira (Michael Thomas) 70:52
Shots: ND 11-11 – 22, SH 10-9 – 19
Corner Kicks: ND 5-0 – 5, SH 3-7 – 10
Saves: ND 4 (Chris Cahill 3), SH 8 (Paul McHenry 8)
Fouls: ND 13, SH 11
Offsides: ND 3, SH 1