Sept. 24, 2000
Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s soccer team’s bid of upsetting second-ranked Connecticut fell short as the Irish dropped a 1-0 decision on a Husky goal that was scored with just over 10 minutes to play in the contest.
Connecticut’s Daren Lewis provided the game-winning score for the visitors when he headed in from eight yards out Edwin Rivera’s cross from the right side of the field past Irish goalkeeper Greg Tait (Fayetteville, N.Y.) at the 80:25 mark of the contest. It was the second straight 1-0 loss for Notre Dame at home after losing to Seton Hall on Friday (Sept. 22) night by the identical score. It also was the third setback in four home games for the Irish this season.
Notre Dame, which fell to 3-4-1 and 1-3-0 in the BIG EAST, turned in one of its strongest defensive performances of the sesaon in limiting the visitors to just nine shots. The Huskies, who improved to 6-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in the league play, also had a strong defensive outing as they allowed just four shots in the game, two by sophomore Erich Braun (Frankfurt, Germany) and two by freshman Chad Riley (Houston, Texas).
Braun had Notre Dame’s best scoring chance when he stole the ball at the 30-yard and broke away from the Connecticut defense before launching a 15-yard shot that went wide right of the goal.
The game proved to be very physical and was marred by a total of 47 fouls and five yellow carde.
The Irish play their fourth of five consecutive home games on Friday, Sept. 29 when they play host to Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m.
Connecticut (6-1-0, 3-0-0) 0 1 -- 1Notre Dame (3-4-1, 1-3-0) 0 0 -- 0
SCORING: – Connecticut: Darin Lewis (Edwin Rivera, Mansour Ndiaye), 80:25, SHOTS: Notre Dame 4, Connecticut 9, CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 0, Connecticut 5, FOULS: Notre Dame 22, Connecticut 25, GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame 3 (Greg Tait – 3), Connecticut 1 (Bryheem – 1)