Oct. 20, 2000
Villanova, Va. – Sophomore Erich Braun (Frankfurt, Germany) had his first multiple-goal game of the season in leading Notre Dame to a 2-1 victory on the road at Villanova. Braun netted a goal in each for the Irish who improved to 6-7-1 overall and 3-5-0 in the BIG EAST.
Sophomore goalkeeper Cole Straub (Oakville, Ontario), starting his third consecutive game, had a career-high seven saves in the conetst to bolster Notre Dame’s strong defensive effort.
Braun, who had two two-goal games last season, tallied his first goal 3:55 into the contest when he blasted a shot past Wildcat goalkeeper John Williams following Chad Riley’s (Houston, Texas) free kick.
Notre Dame, which outshot Villanova 19-10 in the contest, had sevenal other scoring chances in the first half. Justin Detter’s shot from 20 yards out in the 20th minute hit the post, one of two shots in the first 45 minutes.
The Irish gave themselves a two-goal cushion when Braun took advantage of a Wildcat misplay in the backfield and slipped a pass into the back of the net at the 62:12 mark of the contest.
Villanova, which fell to 4-7-2 overall and 1-5-2 in the BIG EAST with the loss, scored its only goal with 11:20 remaining in the contst when Joe Noonan’s blast from beyond the right side of the box made it past Straub.
Notre Dame, which is now 1-1 on its current three-game road swing, plays its third straight road game on Sunday, Oct. 22 when the Irish travel to Rutgers to face the Scarlet Knights in a 1:00 p.m. contest. The game will be broadcast live via the internet at www.internetsoccer.com/handler.cfm/events,main/.
Notre Dame (6-7-1, 3-6-0) 1 1 -- 2Villanova (4-7-2, 1-5-2) 0 1 -- 1
SCORING: Notre Dame: Erich Braun (Chad Riley), 3:55, Notre Dame: Erich Braun, 62:12, Villanova: Joe Noonan, 79:40, SHOTS: Notre Dame 19, Villanova 10, CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 4, Villanova 2, FOULS: Notre Dame 16, Villanova 13, GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame 7 (Cole Straub – 7), Villanova (John Williams – 3)