Sept. 19, 1999
STORRS, Conn. – The Notre Dame men’s soccer team lost a tough 2-1 overtime decision at Connecticut when Luis Arauz scored 15:41 into sudden death overtime to lift the 19th-ranked and defending BIG EAST regular season champions to the win before 2.012 spectators.
The contest marked the third time in four games that the Irish have been pushed to overtime this season. Notre Dame, which is now 3-2-1 overall and 1-1-1 in BIG EAST play, is 0-2-1 in those overtime games.
Arauz scored the gamewinner after a throw-in by Max Zieky was headed to Arauz’ feet by Mike Mordocco and Arauz finished the shot from five yards out.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half. The Huskies got on the scoreboard first when Chris Gbandi scored on a 10-yard blast past Irish goalkeeper Gerick Short (Mobile, Ala.) at 47:58. Freshman Erich Braun (Frankfurt, Germany) provided the equalizer in the game when he scored on free-kick with 2:43 remaining in the contest.
Connecticut had a chance to score with 40 seconds remaining in regulation when Sam Forko’s shot hit off the goal post. The Huskies outshot the Irish 17–11 in the game. Short made a career-high seven stops in goal for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame returns to action on Friday, September 24 when the Irish face Saint Mary’s in opening round action of the Saint Mary’s Tournament in Moraga, Calif. Game time is 2:00 p.m. PST.
Notre Dame (3-2-1, 1-1-1) 0 1 0 -- 1Connecticut (3-2-0, 1-0-0) 0 1 1 -- 2
SCORING: Connecticut: Chris Gbandi, 47,58, Notre Dame: Erich Braun, 87:17, Connecticut: Luis Arauz (Zieky, Mordocco), 103:41
SHOTS: Connecticut 17, Notre Dame 11
CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 6, Connecticut 3
FOULS: Notre Dame 19, Connecticut 16
GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame – Gerick Short (7), Connecticut – Matt Chavlovich (2)