Nov. 16, 2010
Senior forward/midfielder Erica Iantorno has been a key contributor to the success of the Notre Dame women’s soccer team this fall. The Hinsdale, Ill., native has seen action in all 21 games for the Irish, scoring three goals with three assists for nine points. The seventh-ranked Irish are 17-2-2 on the season and are coming off NCAA Tournament wins over New Mexico (3-0) and No. 22 USC (4-0) last weekend in the first two rounds of the Tournament. This weekend, Iantorno and her teammates will play in the NCAA’s round of 16 when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face third-ranked North Carolina at 5:00 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 20. Iantorno started November by being named a second team ESPN Academic all-District V selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Prior to last week’s NCAA Tournament games, Erica sat down with und.com’s Tom McGuire to tell us more about herself and her four years at Notre Dame.
If you could trade places with your coach for a day, what would you do? If I could change places with my coach for a day, oh, the possibilities! I would watch the Champions League all day and have the team play games such as Rapid Fire and World Cup during practice. Then, I would stock our locker room fridge with ice cream and call it a day.
What five words do you think best describe you? The five words that best describe me are analytical, competitive, nerdy, persuasive, and fun loving.
What is your major? Why did you choose that major? My major is English. I chose it because I love reading, writing and studying literature. I also had no idea what else to do!
Do you have any phobias? I am claustrophobic. I hate elevators, and I don’t like anything underground. I am also slightly terrified of bees and scary movies.
What is the biggest game you have ever played in? The biggest game that I have ever played in was the national final of the NCAA College Cup in 2008 during my sophomore year. It was an incredibly emotional experience!
Do you have any rituals or superstitions? The only superstition or ritual that I have is that I always tie my left cleat first and tie the laces in a special way.
North or South Dining Hall? Why? I really like North because it has make-your-own pizzas and round tables. I also lived on North Quad for three years so I am admittedly biased.
What is your favorite memory with your teammates? There are too many favorite memories that I have with my teammates to choose from! Locker room antics and road trips are just as memorable as our Final Four appearances.
Describe your perfect day – who would you spend it with, what would you do, where would you be? In my perfect day, I would go to the Greek Islands with my sister and my boyfriend, lay on a beach all day and read a huge novel.
What is your dream job? In my dream job, I dream of writing best-selling novels and collections of poetry.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? If I could have dinner with anyone it would be either Oscar Wilde or Sirius Black.
What is your theme song? My theme song would be “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi.
What is your worst habit? My worst habit is correcting people’s grammatical issues.
If you didn’t play soccer, what other sport would you play? If I didn’t play soccer, I would be playing basketball or volleyball.
Who was your role model growing up? Why? My role model growing up was Kimberly, the pink Power Ranger. She was way cooler than all the guys.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? If I could it just one thing the rest of my life it would be Waffles!
What does being a part of the Fighting Irish program mean to you? This program at Notre Dame really epitomizes my soccer career. Since I was five years old, soccer has been my passion and my life, and the success I have had on and off the field with the Fighting Irish has made all of my sacrifice and hard work worth it. This program has taught me what being a part of something greater than yourself really means, how rewarding it is to persevere in the face of adversity, and the value of dedicating your heart and soul to something you love.
What annoys you the most? When people say “You did good” instead of “You did well,” or something along those lines. Also, I can’t stand being called by my soccer nickname when I am off the field. It shall not be named.
Do you have any nicknames? My nicknames include E, Easy E, and the one that was explained in the last question that butchers my last name to “Torno”.
What was the biggest thing that attracted you here to Notre Dame? The biggest thing that attracted me to Notre Dame was how proud my family would be of me coming here! My entire extended family is from the Chicago area, so the prestige of Notre Dame around the Midwest was particularly attractive.