Sept. 24, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior midfielder Anne Makinen’s third game-winning goal of the season proved to be the day’s only scoring as the top-ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team overcame a defensive-oriented Pittsburgh squad, 1-0, in BIG EAST Conference Mid-Atlantic Division action Sunday at Alumni Field.
Notre Dame (9-0-0, 2-0-0 BIG EAST)-playing its first home game as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team-held a dominating 27-1 shot edge but failed to score more than once versus a Panthers defense that regularly packed nine players into the defensive third of the field. The Irish also held a 10-0 edge in corner kicks and did not allow a shot in the game’s final 76 minutes of play.
Pittsburgh (3-7-0, 0-2-0) stayed in the game behind the steady play of junior goalkeeper Rachel Brown, who made 15 saves while thwarting several other Irish scoring chances.
Freshman forward Amy Warner set up the goal-scoring sequence when she made a run through the left side of the box before chipping a pass back to the top of the box. the ball ended up at Makinen’s feet and the All-American shifted to her right before placing a shot into the upper left corner of the net (33:35).
Notre Dame nearly claimed a 2-0 lead in the game’s 55th minute but senior forward Meotis Erikson’s shot from the top of the box clanged off the middle of the crossbar.
NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH RANDY WALDRUM: “We’ve faced this type of defense before this season and we know we will see it again. It affects the way you play somewhat and we just have to be more efficient in creating chances and then finishing them. There’s a sense right now that the team may have some mental fatigue and we are going to give them a couple days off this week. We play Seton Hall on Friday night and they have given us some trouble in the past, so we hope to be sharper by the time the next games roll around.”
GAME NOTES: Makinen’s 22 points this season (7G-8A) include three game-winning goals, three primary game-winning assists and the outlet pass that led to the own-goal in the Stanford game … Sunday’s goal was the 58th of Makinen’s career, one behind Michelle McCarthy (’96) for fifth in ND history and three behind ’97 graduate Cindy Daws … junior goaltender Liz Wagner and the Irish defenders have allowed just one goal (on a penalty kick Friday night at West Virginia) in the last 408 minutes of action … ND now owns a 246-49 season shot edge (27-5 average) and has held seven opponents to 1-8 shots (four have managed just 1-2 shots) … the Irish also own a 69-21 season edge in corner kicks (8-2 average) and have allowed just 26 shots on goal (2.9/gm) while attempting 147 (16.3/gm) … ND now holds a 4-0-0 lead in the Pittsburgh series, with a 20-1 scoring edge.
PITTSBURGH (3-7-0) 0 0 - 0#1 NOTRE DAME (9-0-0) 1 0 - 1
ND 1. Anne Makinen 7 (Amy Warner).
Shots: Pitt 1, ND 7.
Saves: Pitt 16 (Rachel Brown 15, team 1), ND 0 (Liz Wagner).
Corner Kicks: Pitt 0, ND 10.
Fouls: Pitt 7, ND 6.
Offsides: Pitt 0, ND 5.