Sept. 21, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore forward Amy Warner (Albuquerque, N.M.) scored both Notre Dame goals-including the gamewinner in the 25th minute of overtime-as the fourth-ranked Irish women’s soccer team opened BIG EAST Conference play with a 2-1 victory over visiting Villanova in Friday-night action at Alumni Field.
Warner had opened the scoring in the 77th minute but Quinn Sellers netted the equalizer with just 3:05 left in regulation. Warner then ended the game with 5:49 remaining in the second and final overtime. Notre Dame (4-0-1)-playing its first game in 12 days- tied a team record by playing its third consecutive overtime game (also in ’95 and ’98) and the Irish are now 6-0-3 in their last nine overtime games-dating back to the 1999 season opener.
Villanova (4-1-1) played most of the game with just one forward past the midfield line while substituting frequently during the 115 minutes of play. The Irish finished with a 10-0 edge in corner kicks and totaled 22 shots (12 on goal), compared to 10 shots for VU (just two of which were on goal).
Senior defender Monica Gonzalez set the winning sequence in motion, with a well-placed lead pass from midfield. Sophomore midfielder Randi Scheller ran onto the ball beyond the left edge of the box and cut a pass into the penalty area. Warner was filling the middle and quickly sent a low shot past the imposing form of VU goalkeeper Janel Schillig, who made 10 saves during her busy night (114:11).
Villanova had answered Warner’s first goal by cashing in a chance from close range. Laura Johnson gained some space on the right flank and served the ball deep into the penalty box. Sellers then delivered her fifth goal of the season, with a sliding shot as Irish goaltender Liz was starting to move forward on the play (86:55).
Warner-who also had the gamewinning assist in the Sept. 7 overtime game with Indiana-opened the scoring with her third goal of the season. The score was set up by Villanova’s failed clearance of an Irish corner kick from the right side. Amanda Guertin won the ball near the opposite side of the box and fed her classmate Warner at the top of the penalty area. Warner hesitated just enough to catch Schillig flatfooted before sending a bending shot that curled inside the far right post (76:24).
Irish freshman midfielder/forward Mary Boland turned in some solid minutes off the bench while making her first appearance since being injured in the closing seconds of the opener vs. Penn State. Sophomore forward Melissa Tancredi saw her first regular-season action with the Irish, as a starter alongside Warner and Guertin.
Tancredi appeared to win the game early in overtime but the Irish were ruled to be offside leading up to the goal.
OT OT
VILLANOVA (4-1-1) 0 1 0 0 1
#4 NOTRE DAME (4-0-1) 0 1 0 1 2
ND 1. Amy Warner 3 (Amanda Guertin) 76:24, VU 2.
Quinn Sellers 5 (Laura Johnson) 86:55, ND 2. Amy Warner 4 (Randi Scheller, Monica Gonzalez) 114:11.
SHOTS: VU 2-6-2-0-10, ND 6-9-5-2-22.
SAVES: VU (Janel Schillig) 2-4-4-0-10, ND (Liz Wagner) 0-1-0-0-0.
CORNER KICKS: VU 0, ND 10.
FOULS: VU 9, ND 13 .
YELLOW CARD: Laura Johnson (VU).