#4 Taylor Knaack 2008-09 Women's Soccer Roster

Two-year monogram winner … speedy forward who showed tremendous improvement and growth last season … took on an even greater role with the Notre Dame offense early in 2009 season when injuries took their toll … promising talent with great mobility and a tireless work rate … shows excellent versatility with the ability to play up top or in the midfield … combined with Erica Iantorno, the duo can wear down a defense with their hustle and ability to pressure the ball … battle-tested competitor who knows how to handle pressure and win big games … her on-field personality and playing flair adds to Notre Dame[apos]s long tradition of producing exciting players in the attacking third … a creative player, constantly in motion and effective at getting in behind the defense … very dangerous when running at opponents but looking to improve on playing with her back to the goal … one of 24 Texas natives to play for Notre Dame through the 2009 season (there are seven Texans on the 2010 Irish roster, including newcomers Jordan Snyder and Rebecca Twining) … sports number-four jersey last worn by standout defender Kim Lorenzen (2006 captain) … retains a fifth year of eligibility having missed her entire freshman season in 2007 while rehabilitating from an ACL injury.

AS A JUNIOR: Appeared in all 26 games, starting 22 times … rang up career highs of six goals (including three gamewinners), five assists, 17 points and 43 shots (20 on goal) … ranked fourth on the team in goals, points, shots and shots on goal … tied for second on the squad in both assists and gamewinning goals … experienced her greatest success during BIG EAST regular-season play, when she led the conference with six goals, 15 points and three gamewinning goals … wasted little time in getting in the scorebook, assisting on Melissa Henderson[apos]s goal less than three minutes into the second half to break a scoreless draw in the season opener against Wisconsin (3-0) … started that game and the next against Loyola-Chicago … returned to the lineup for BIG EAST opener against DePaul (4-0) and delivered two assists in 39 minutes … couldn[apos]t have picked a better time to score her first goal of the season, converting on a goalmouth scramble 41 seconds into overtime at West Virginia to give the Irish a 3-2 win; goal is believed to be the fastest OT score in school history … tallied insurance goal in 86th minute at Seton Hall (2-0), igniting a run that saw her score at least once in four of the final five regular-season games … enjoyed best day of her college career with two goals and an assist against Connecticut (6-1); also drew foul that led to Rose Augustin[apos]s free kick goal in the first half and nearly completed hat trick in second half but long-range shot hit underside of crossbar and didn[apos]t completely cross the goal line … scored opening goal in 2-0 wins over Providence and #rv/22 Georgetown … collected an assist on the first of Henderson[apos]s four goals against Central Michigan (6-1) in the second round of the NCAA Championship.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in all 27 games for the Irish … made four starts … totaled five goals and two assists for 12 points … netted her first career goal in season-opening 7-0 win over Michigan … registered her next point with her first career assist in win over Cincinnati (6-0), as she assisted on the second of Henderson[apos]s three goals on the afternoon … put together a three-game scoring streak in wins versus Seton Hall (6-0), Cincinnati (5-0) and Marquette (2-0) … those goals versus Cincinnati and Marquette came in BIG EAST tournament play, with her goal scored against Marquette providing some breathing room for the Irish … had an assist in 5-2 NCAA Championship first-round win over Toledo … converted a Kerri Hanks cross for the important second goal versus #6 Florida State in 2-0 win against the Seminoles to help seal the win and send the Irish to the College Cup … one of a record setting 19 players to score for the Irish last season.

AS A FRESHMAN: Did not play while recovering from an ACL injury suffered in May 2007 … made unofficial debut during spring 2008 exhibition win over Mexican National Team (2-1).ODP/CLUB HIGHLIGHTS: Member of ODP Region III team in 2003, playing for ODP North Texas state team from 2002-04 … invited to 2003 National Team Camp (Austin) … key member of Dallas Texans from 2001-07, helping team advance to USYS national semifinals in [apos]04 and [apos]06 … led Texans to 2004-06 North Texas titles and spot in Region III tournament … helped Texans win 2004 Region III title in Austin before advancing to Orlando for nationals ([apos]06 held in Des Moines, Iowa) … scored winning goal in final game of 2005 Disney Showcase (the Texans also won that event in [apos]06) … received Texans outstanding attacker award … played for Tejanos club from 1999-2001.

PREP & PERSONAL: Four-time all-conference at Martin High School, helping win four conference titles and compile 2005 undefeated season (as a sophomore) … first team all-region as a sophomore and junior … led team in scoring her first three seasons (first team all-district each year) … named Martin[apos]s attacker of the year in 2004, as only freshman on varsity … set team record for assists in a season (26, in [apos]04) … named one of three ‘players to watch’ by Fort Worth Star-Telegram … named to 2004 Plano Invitational all-tournament team … born Sept. 30, 1988, in Fort Worth, Texas … daughter of Ted and Wendy Knaack … full name is Taylor Ann Knaack … enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business as a marketing major … a two-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team (2008-09 and 2009-10).

Knaack[apos]s Career Statistics

Knaack In the Post Season