Nov. 26, 2003
The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team (16-3-3) defeated UW-Milwaukee (16-6-1) 4-1 in the second round of the NCAA Championship on Wednesday night, moving on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in the program’s history. The Irish will play host to Michigan in a third-round match up at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30.
After a back and forth first half found the score tied at 1-1, Notre Dame came out focused and aggressive to post three goals in the second period. Senior forward Justin Detter was the clear star of the contest, putting up five points (two goals, one assist) to set a school record for points in an NCAA contest. The four goals the Irish posted were a team record for NCAA competition as well.
Notre Dame struck first in the contest when senior midfielder Chad Riley sent a deep ball into the UWM zone toward Detter. The senior fired off a shot that was saved, but Milwaukee goalkeeper Eric Mickschl could not control the ball. It ricocheted out to Luke Boughen on the left sideline, who immediately sent it back into the box to a waiting Detter. The White Lake, Mich., native settled, turned and fired a shot past Mickschl to put the Irish up 1-0 at 31:41.
It did not take long for UW-Milwaukee to get the equalizer. Playing with renewed energy after giving up the first goal, UWM’s Antou Jallow broke through the Notre Dame defense and was tackled hard in the box by ND’s Christopher High for a penalty kick. Kyle Lance stepped in to take the kick and just got it past Chris Sawyer to even up the game.
Sawyer’s shut out streak ends at five games with the successful penalty kick.
The teams played even until halftime, when Irish head coach Bobby Clark made clear to his team they needed to be the aggressors in the second half. It did not take long for his charges to answer the call.
At 46:17, a great give and go between Greg Martin and Kevin Golthwaite set up a cross into the heart of the Panther defense. Senior forward Devon Prescod came streaking in from the opposite side, chest trapped the ball and tapped it past Mickschl to provide Notre Dame with a lead they would not relinquish.
The quick goal clearly motivated the Irish, who controlled the action for the rest of the game. Senior Greg Martin got behind the defense to put Notre Dame up 3-1 at 77:32, with Prescod and Detter assisting on the play.
As the UW-Milwaukee team moved up in an attempt to get back in the contest, Detter took advantage to get behind the Panther defense for an insurance goal at 88:16.
Sawyer made three saves in the contest to improve his record to match Notre Dame’s at 16-3-3. Mickschl stopped three shots for UWM. Notre Dame out-shot the Panthers 17-8 and had five corner kicks compared to three for Milwaukee.
GAME NOTES: Kevin Goldthwaite assisted on Prescod’s goal and Detter’s second goal to move his season assist total to nine and take over the team lead … Luke Boughen earned his second assist of the season … Notre Dame has now won eight games in a row, the longest winning streak for the program since 1987 … Sawyer continues his solid play in goal, making one spectacular save in the second half and continuing his impressive statistic of holding Notre Dame’s opposing teams to one or zero goals in 20 of 22 matches this season … with his five points on Wednesday, Justin Detter moves into sole possession of 13th place on the all-time scoring list at Notre Dame with 72 points (Terry Finnegann is 12th with 75) … Notre Dame and Michigan will meet for the second time this season, the Irish and Wolverines battled to a 1-1 tie during the exhibition season at Alumni Field on Aug. 25 … Michigan advanced with a 6-2 victory over St. Peter’s … the Irish, the fifth seed in the tournament, have the ability to host the next two tournament games at home after the elimination of North Carolina (the fourth seed) on Wednesday.