Oct. 15, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame used five different goal scorers to record its biggest BIG EAST win since joining the league in 1995 as the Irish posted a 5-0 victory over Villanova. The seventh of the season for and fourth in the last five outings for the Irish.
With the win, Notre Dame improves to 8-4-2 overall and 4-1-1 in the BIG EAST. It also was the seventh win in eight home outings for head coach Mike Berticelli’s squad. Notre Dame is 5-0-1 in its last six games.
The five-goal differential was the largest for Notre Dame in a BIG EAST game. Since joining the league in 1995, the Irish had two 4-0 victories against Villanova in 1995 and versus Providence just six days ago on October 9.
Freshman Rafael Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) scored the first Notre Dame goal, and his second of the season, 16:55 into the contest, when he lofted a 20-foot shot over the head of Villanova goalkeeper Matt Malek. The goal was assisted by another Irish rookie Erich Braun (Frankfurt, Germany) who improved his team-leading point total to eight goals and five assists (21 points).
Freshman Alan Lyskawa (Novi, Mich.) scored his second goal of the ’99 campaign in the 28th minute of the game when his header from the right side bounced off the post and into the left corner of the net. Lyskawa received the feed from Stephen Maio (Aurora, Ontario), who recorded first assist of the season.
Notre Dame’s final three goals of the game were the first collegiate goals for each Irish goal scorers. Connor LaRose (Claremont, Calif.) gave Notre Dame a 3-0 lead at the 58:23 mark when he headed in Braun’s corner kick from eight yards out. In the 81st minute of the game, Matt Rosso (Churchville, Pa.) scored from 30 yards out on a shot that bounced four time past Villanova’s goalkeeper and into the net.
South Bend native, senior Peter Bandera, tallied the game’s final score off an assist from Jason Jorski (Lutz, Fla.) at 88:20.
Notre Dame goalkeeper Gerick Short (Mobile, Ala.), who was replaced by freshman Greg Tait (Fayetteville, N.Y.), had all four of the team’s saves.
The Irish return to action on Sunday, October 17 when they play host to Rutgers at 1:00 p.m. on Alumni Field.
Villanova (2-10-0, 0-8-0) 0 0 -- 0Notre Dame (8-4-2, 4-1-1) 2 3 -- 5
SCORING: Notre Dame: Rafael Garcia (Braun), 16,55, Notre Dame: Alan Lyskawa (Maio), 27:05, Notre Dame: Connor LaRose (Braun), 58:23, Notre Dame: Matt Rosso, 80:32, Notre Dame: Peter Bandera (Jorski), 88:20
SHOTS: Notre Dame 21, Villanova 15
CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 7, Villanova 3
FOULS: Notre Dame 19, Villanova 19
GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame – Gerick Short (4) and Greg Tait (0), Villanova – Matt Malek (2) and Sean Teesdale (2)