May 12, 2005
Notre Dame’s 2004 women’s soccer season began with a memorable group trip to Brazil and culminated with the program’s second national championship in December. The team will be together one last time on Friday, May 13, when it travels to Washington, D.C., to visit the White House as one of four national-championship squads to be recognized by President George W. Bush.
Every Irish player but one – freshman Jannica Tjeder, who recently returned to her native Finland for the summer – as well as coaches and support staff will be in attendance. After completing final exams last week, most of the team had returned to their homes for the summer, scattering across the country. They will reconvene one final time in Washington and will have a chance to sightsee in the nation’s capital on Friday and Saturday morning before dispersing again.
It will be a particularly noteworthy weekend for Notre Dame’s five seniors – Mary Boland, Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, Sarah Halpenny, Melissa Tancredi, and Kate Tulisiak – who will return to campus from Washington in time for their commencement on Sunday.
The other championship teams that will be honored with the Irish are Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team, Indiana’s men’s soccer team, and Stanford’s volleyball squad.
Notre Dame’s official athletics website, und.com, will have full coverage of the trip, including a photo gallery, to be posted later in the weekend.