Nov. 2, 2003
The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team (12-3-3) wrapped up its 2003 regular season schedule with a 1-0 victory at Michigan State (11-4-2) on Sunday afternoon. The victory gives Irish head coach Bobby Clark 12 wins in each of his first three seasons.
Senior captain Greg Martin provided the lone goal in the contest, knocking in a rebound off a corner kick at the 69:44 mark. Goalkeeper Chris Sawyer earned his 10th shut out of the season, making five saves in the contest. Sawyer kept the game scoreless in the first period, denying MSU’s Nick DeGraw on and one-on-one opportunity when he got behind the Irish defense early.
Michigan State led the game in shots 14-12 and corner kicks 8-5.
Notre Dame begins its pursuit of the BIG EAST Championship next weekend, when it plays host to Connecticut in the tournament quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9.
St. John’s won the BIG EAST regular season title with an 8-2-0 conference mark and 13-4-1 overall record. The Red Storm was followed by Virginia Tech (7-3-0, 13-4-0), Notre Dame (6-3-1, 12-3-3), Rutgers (5-2-3, 9-5-3), Seton Hall (5-2-3, 8-4-4), Connecticut (5-3-2, 8-7-3), Providence (4-5-1, 6-8-2) and Villanova (4-6-0, 9-7-1).
Notre Dame’s match up with Connecticut next weekend gives the Irish an opportunity for redemption, as the Huskies handed Notre Dame one of its three league losses this season on Oct. 18 (1-0).
2003 BIG EAST Conference Regular-Season Final Standings
Rank, team, BIG EAST record, points, overall record
1. St. John’s, 8-2-0, 24, 13-4-1
2. Virginia Tech, 7-3-0, 21, 13-4-1
3. Notre Dame, 6-3-1, 19, 12-3-3
4. Rutgers, 5-2-3, 18, 9-5-3
5. Seton Hall, 5-2-3, 18, 8-4-4
6. Connecticut, 5-3-2, 17, 8-7-3
7. Providence, 4-5-1, 13, 6-8-2
8. Villanova, 4-6-0, 12, 9-7-1
9. Boston College, 3-5-2, 11, 6-7-3
10. Pittsburgh, 3-6-1, 10, 6-11-1
11. Georgetown, 3-7-0, 9, 7-9-2
12. Syracuse, 1-5-4, 7, 4-8-5
13. West Virginia, 1-6-3, 6, 4-10-3
Top eight teams participate in the BIG EAST Championship.
2003 BIG EAST Championshp Schedule
Saturday, November 8th
No. 8 Villanova at No. 1 St. John’s, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Seton Hall at No. 4 Rutgers, 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 9th
No. 7 Providence at No. 2 Virginia Tech, 1 p.m.
No. 6 Connecticut at No. 3 Notre Dame, 1 p.m.
Semifinals (at Connecticut)
Friday, November 14th
#3/#6 winner vs. #2/#7 winner, 5 p.m.
#1/#8 winner vs. #4/#5 winner, 7 p.m.
2003 BIG EAST Championship
Sunday, November 16th
Semifinal winners, 12 noon
Semifinals and Finals will be televised –
Semifinals, Friday, Nov. 14
Delayed broadcast on CSTV (11/15 – 2:30 and 5 p.m.)
Final, Sunday, Nov. 16
Live broadcasts – MSG Network, Fox Sports Net Florida
Delayed broadcast – Fox Sports Net Chicago (11/16, 4 p.m. EST), Fox Sports Net New England (11/16, 12:30 p.m. EST), Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh (11/16, 1 p.m. EST), Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia (11/16, 1 p.m. EST), Comcast Sports Net Washington (11/16, 4 p.m. EST).