Joseph Lapira netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 68th minute.

Lapira Named To Preseason All-America Teams

Aug. 30, 2007

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame senior forward Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic) has been named a preseason All-American by three different sources. Soccer America, College Soccer News and MLS Magazine all selected Lapira as a first-team All-American heading into the 2007 campaign. The senior was also named to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy watch list earlier this month.

Lapira is no stranger to national accolades as he copped several last season after leading all NCAA Division I men’s soccer players with 22 goals and 50 points. He received the Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy, which is the official player-of-the-year award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Lapira was also named the Soccer America player of the year and became the first unanimous All-American in program history.

The Louisiana native enters his senior campaign with 32 goals and 13 assists for 77 career points. His goals total rank him 11th in program history and he is just six scores away from cracking the top five. He stands 12th in points and will need 23 to enter Notre Dame’s top five on the career list.

Lapira spent time this past summer training with the Ireland National Team. He worked out with the squad for a week and earned his first cap in a match against Ecuador on May 23 in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Lapira was able to play with the Ireland team because his mother is a native of the country. He also spent time training with Derby County of the English Premier League and the Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League.

No. 9 Notre Dame will open the 2007 season against top-ranked UCLA at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington, Ind. on Friday at 5:00 p.m. (ET). The Irish will then face No. 7 Maryland on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. during the second and final day of the tournament.

— ND —