Aug. 1, 2014

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame men’s and women’s soccer teams will hold the 2014 “Meet The Teams” fan appreciation event from 4-6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Aug. 9 at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in South Bend.

This free annual event, which has become a favorite of fans and teams alike, allows members of the South Bend/Michiana community to meet the players and coaches from both powerhouse programs. Student-athletes of both teams will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures. Some of the Fighting Irish players also will be available to compete in pick-up games and skills challenges. Along with free food, there will be activities for younger fans, including face painting.

The event will be held rain or shine. Along with outdoor turf fields, the Kroc Center, which is located at 900 West Western Ave., features an indoor facility in case of inclement weather.

Schedule of Events:
4:00 – Mingle/meet and greet
4:20 – Coaches welcoming remarks
4:30 – Play games/face painting
5:30 – Giant group photo
5:40 – Autographs

The “Meet The Teams” event is part of the kickoff to the 2014 Notre Dame soccer seasons. There is a lot of excitement surrounding both programs as they enter their respective campaigns. The women’s squad is beginning a new era under head coach Theresa Romagnolo, while the men are the defending national champions.

The Notre Dame women will open its 2014 schedule Aug. 11 with a home exhibition match versus Illinois State. That contest is slated for 3 p.m. (ET) at Alumni Stadium. The squad’s final preseason game will be held Aug. 16 at Northwestern. The regular season begins Aug. 22 at Illinois and the Irish will play host to Oakland Aug. 24 in their home opener.

The Fighting Irish men commence exhibition play with road tilts against Saint Louis (Aug. 16) and Bradley (Aug. 19) and their final preseason tune-up will take place Aug. 25 when Wisconsin visits Alumni Stadium for a 7 p.m. (ET) kickoff. Regular-season action begins Aug. 29 against Marquette at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington, Ind. The home opener is scheduled for Sept. 5 versus Dartmouth during the first day of the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament.

To purchase tickets for the 2014 Fighting Irish men’s and women’s soccer seasons, call the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office at (574) 631-7356, visit the official Notre Dame athletics ticketing web site, UND.com/tickets or stop by the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office windows during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday). Tickets also can be purchased at Alumni Stadium on match days.

A season package, which includes tickets for both the men and women, is $40 for adults and $30 for youths (ages 21 and younger) and seniors (ages 55 and older), while children ages three and younger are admitted free. In addition, a Fighting Irish “Fan Pack” of four season tickets may be purchased for $100. The Notre Dame season ticket packages include a variety of special amenities:

– Access to over 20 Irish men’s and women’s soccer home games
– Irish soccer scarf (one per season ticket purchased)
– Priority seating in the blue chairbacks (subject to availability)
– Bring a friend to the stadium for select home games (subject to availability)
– Free access to Soccer 101 with both programs (dates are TBD)
– Priority purchasing for postseason home games (ACC and NCAA)

There also is a “First-Time Buyer Special” on season tickets for all of Notre Dame’s ticketed Olympic sports. A first-time buyer for soccer would pay $30 for an adult ticket, $22 for youth/senior, and $75 for the “Fan Pack” (25% discount across the board). In order to receive the discounted price fans need to either call the ticket office (574-631-7356) or come to the window at Purcell Pavilion during business hours.

–ND–