Aug. 23, 2003
The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team won its first of two exhibition matches scheduled for the 2003 preseason on Saturday evening, downing #11 Saint Louis 2-0. The 12th-ranked Irish will debut at home on Monday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. with an exhibition match against Michigan.
Against the Billikens, the Irish were led by senior Justin Detter, who began the scoring with a 12-yard shot past Saint Louis goalkeeper Martin Hutton in the 49th minute. Saint Louis out-shot Notre Dame 5-1 in the first period, but a more aggressive Irish team appeared in the second half – getting off nine shots compared to just two for the home team.
Detter combined with senior Devon Prescod on Notre Dame’s second goal at 78:21. Prescod was able to pick a ball out of a scramble in front of the net, as Detter was given an assist on the play. One goal and an assist give Detter, an assistant captain from White Lake, Mich., three points in the game.
Prescod and Detter were aggressive all evening for Notre Dame, as they accounted for seven of Notre Dame’s 10 shots on goal. Hutton eventually made three saves for the Billikens. BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Chris Sawyer notched two saves for Notre Dame while posting the shut out victory.
The Notre Dame – Saint Louis match up featured two of the top incoming freshman classes in the nation, though in a strange twist the Irish rookies were unable to attend the match due to freshman orientation on campus.
The game was played before 5,008 at Saint Louis’ Robert R. Hermann Stadium, the second-largest men’s soccer crowd in school history.