May 23, 2007
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic), a rising senior on the Notre Dame men’s soccer team, is currently training with the Ireland National Team in New York. Lapira, who is eligible to play for the squad since his mother is Irish, could see action against Ecuador tonight and against Bolivia on Saturday, May 26.
“He’s eligible to play and he’s part of the squad,” said Ireland National Team coach Steve Staunton, who had initially invited Lapira to train with the squad for the week. “He’s come along and he’s done very well in training considering he hasn’t had any football for the last two months. I think he realizes the pace we play at is a little bit quicker than what he’s used to. I’ll wait to see how it goes. I’ve got a few strikers as well and I’ll be looking to play as many as possible. We’ll just see how the games go. I can pick 11 and use only six substitutes so we’ll see.”
Lapira has never appeared with a United States team so an international debut this week would make him the first amateur to play for Ireland since 1964. Tonight’s friendly match against Ecuador will take place in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Saturday’s match against Bolivia will be played in Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
As a junior in 2006, Lapira won the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy as the top male collegiate soccer player along with being a consensus first-team All-American. The forward led the nation with 22 goals and 50 points. He became the first player in the history of the Notre Dame men’s program to be named the national player of the year from any organization.
“This year is starting out where 2006 finished for Joseph,” said Notre Dame head coach Bobby Clark referring to Lapira’s remarkable 2006 season. “This is a terrific experience just to even practice in that company. To experience that level of play can only help Joseph as a player. This is not only a terrific honor for Joseph, but a terrific honor for Notre Dame.”
Lapira also took home BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors along with being on the all-BIG EAST first team. He appeared in all 23 matches this season, making 20 starts. He notched 11 game-winners, including two in the NCAA Tournament to help lead the Fighting Irish into the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
–ND–