Sept. 7, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Freshman Rob Zdrodowski scored his first collegiate goal 1:19 into sudden death overtime to lift Western Michigan to a 1-0 win over Notre Dame at Alumni Stadium. The victory marked the first-ever win for the Broncos at Notre Dame in eight tries and marked the first win for WMU over Notre Dame since 1981.
Zdrodowski’s goal came after he picked up a lose ball in front of the Irish net and shot it past Irish goalkeeper Gerick Short (Mobile, Ala.). The win was the first of the season for the Broncos after opening the season with three losses. Notre Dame, which had not allowed a goal in the first two games of the season, falls to 2-1.
The Irish outshot Western Michigan 16-10 in the contest and owned a 10-1 advantage over the Broncos in the first half. Western Michigan became more aggressive in the second half, but never really threatened except for Evan Fonger’s shot inside the box from the left wing which was saved by Short, his only stop of the night.
Bronco goalkeeper Eric Progue came up with five saves in the game.
Heading into the contest, Notre Dame was 7-0-1 against Western Michigan in the last eight meetings between the two teams. Last year, the two squads battled to a 1-0 stalemate in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Notre Dame returns to action on Saturday, September 11 when the Irish travel to Pittsburgh for a 1:00 p.m. BIG EAST contest.
Western Michigan (1-3) 0 0 1 -- 1Notre Dame (2-0-0, 1-0-0) 0 0 0 -- 0
SCORING: Westen Michigan: Rob Zdrodowski, 91:19
SHOTS: Notre Dame 16, Western Michigan 10
CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 9, Western Michigan 4
FOULS: Western Michigan 20, Notre Dame 11
GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame – Gerick Short (1), Western Michigan – Eric Progue (5)