Aug. 27, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior forward Justin McGeeney (Ames, Iowa/Ames) scored a career-high two goals and fellow senior Nate Norman (Rochester, Mich./Rochester Adams) added two assists as the No. 10 Notre Dame men’s soccer team captured a dominating 4-1 win over No. 8 Creighton during the final day of action at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament at Alumni Field on Sunday afternoon. The win improves the Fighting Irish to 1-1-0 on the young season, while the loss drops the Bluejays to 0-2-0. Notre Dame finished the tournament in third-place, with No. 12 Indiana taking home the title after defeating UAB, 2-1, in the day’s first game. UAB placed second, while Creighton was fourth.
The Irish, who were coming off a 1-0 double-overtime loss to UAB on Friday, surrendered an early own-goal to the Bluejays. A corner kick by Creighton’s Pietari Holopainen was knocked into the net by Notre Dame’s Jack Traynor (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) in just the second minute of the match to put the Bluejays up 1-0.
Notre Dame responded well behind goals from McGeeney in the 14th minute and then the 18th minute. His first tally was set-up by Norman, who flicked a cross into the box and McGeeney put a head on it. Then a few minutes later, McGeeney received the ball in the box, controlled it and then fired it in to give the Irish a 2-1 advantage.
“I thought our team looked very good in both games this weekend,” said Irish head coach Bobby Clark. “It was good to get the goals today because when you play well without the goals, it’s a hollow feeling. It was also good watching us comeback from a goal down early on.”
The Fighting Irish nearly connected on a few other chances in the half, yet could not produce another score before the first 45 minutes of play were over. There were more close calls early in the second half, including McGeeney’s bid for a hat trick, which was headed off the post in the 58th minute.
In the 77th minute, Norman hooked up with sophomore Bright Dike (Edmond, Okla./Edmond North) to give the Irish a two-goal cushion. Norman beat a couple Bluejay defenders and sent the ball to Dike, who redirected the pass into the back of the net.
Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic) put in the final tally of the day for Notre Dame as he was the lone Irish player among four Creighton defenders, yet he ripped a low blast from 18 yards out that found the back of the goal to make it a 4-1 final.
In his first collegiate game, sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Quinn (Silver Spring, Md./DeMatha) made two saves for the Fighting Irish. Creighton’s Matt Allen played the first half and did not register a save, while Nathan Gibson made four stops in the second half.
Notre Dame out-shot Creighton 18-10, yet the Bluejays held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
For their efforts, McGeeney and Norman were named to the all-tournament team.
“We have a good team,” commented Clark. “I am very excited about this season. We have another big test coming up next weekend.”
Next up for the Irish will be a trip down state to take part in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic this coming weekend. Notre Dame faces Saint Louis on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5:00 p.m. and will take on the host Hoosiers at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3.
To stay up to date on the 2006 Notre Dame men’s soccer season, please log on to und.com or call the official Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.
#8 Creighton 1-0 – 1
#10 Notre Dame 2 2 – 4
CU: own goal 1:55, ND: Justin McGeeney (Nate Norman) 13:35, ND: Justin McGeeney (Bright Dike) 17:22, ND: Bright Dike (Nate Norman) 76:03, ND: Joseph Lapira (unassisted) 79:50
Shots: CU 2-8 – 10, ND 8-10 – 18
Corner Kicks: CU 6-1 – 7, ND 0-4 – 4
Saves: CU 4 (Matt Allen 4), ND 2 (Andrew Quinn 2)
Fouls: CU 7, ND 7
Offsides: CU 3, ND 2
2006 Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament
Order of Finish:
1. Indiana
2. UAB
3. Notre Dame
4. Creighton
2006 Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament All-Tournament Team
Brian Ackley – Indiana – Forward
Josh Tudela – Indiana – Midfielder
Greg Stevning – Indiana – Defender
Julian Dieterle – Indiana – Defender
Jeremy Drake – UAB – Goalkeeper
Jerson Monteiro – UAB – Forward
Dejan Jakovic – UAB – Defender
Justin McGeeney – Notre Dame – Forward
Nate Norman – Notre Dame – Midfielder
Michael Kraus – Creighton – Forward
Seth Sinovic – Creighton – Midfielder
Offensive MVP:
Brian Ackley – Indiana
Defensive MVP:
Julian Dieterle – Indiana
Most Valuable Goalkeeper:
Jeremy Drake – UAB
-ND–