Sept. 1, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. – Freshman Rafael Garcia (Palmdale, Calif.) broke a scoreless tie with 23 minutes remaining in the contest to lift the Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Northwestern in the season opener for both teams.
The Irish rookie registered his first collegiate goal when he headed a cross from senior Andrew Aris (Auckland, New Zealand) past goalkeeper Matt Keeler midway through the second stanza.
Irish senior goalkeeper Gerick Short (Mobile, Ala.), playing in his first game since the 1996 campaign, made his third career start (and first since 1995) in recording his first career solo shutout. Short finished with two saves in the game.
The contest was a defensive battle in the first half as both teams only could get off three shots. Notre Dame held the Wildcats without out a shot in the second half and finished with eight shots total in the game.
The Irish, who returned just four starters from last year’s squad which finished with a 9-6-3 record, started five freshman in the contest.
Notre Dame returns to action on Saturday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m. when the Irish play host to BIG EAST rival Boston College in the home opener at Alumni Field.
Notre Dame (1-0) 0 1 -- 1Northwestern (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
SCORING: Notre Dame: Rafael Garcia (Andrew Aris), 67:00 SHOTS: Notre Dame 8, Northwesterm 3, CORNER KICKS: Notre Dame 5, Northwestern 2, FOULS: Northwestern 16, Notre Dame 12, GOALIE SAVES: Notre Dame – Gerick Short (2), Northwesern – Matt Keeler (2)