Oct. 6, 1998
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Freshman sensation Shane Walton’s (San Diego, Calif.) goal 5:03 into sudden death overtime overtime lifted the #22-ranked Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting IUPUI. It was the third game-winning goal for the Walton this season and his eighth in 10 games.
Notre Dame, which improved to 5-2-3 on the season, rebounded from Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Georgetown. It was the sixth overtime contest in the last seven games for the Irish. Coach Mike Berticelli’s squad set a record last week against Western Michigan when it played in its fifth straight overtime game (a 1-1 tie with the Broncos). It was also the third consecutive overtime contest for the Irish at Alumni Field and the team’s first win since beating Villanova on September 20.
Walton, who leads the team in scoring with eight goals and five assists, now has scored two of his three game-winning goals in overtime. His first overtime goal came in a 2-1 win against the Wildcats on the road.
Walton chipped the ball in from the top of the penalty box after Scott Wells’ (Phoenix, Ariz.) shot rebounded off of Jaguar goalkeeper Armando Femia.
The Irish outshot IUPIU, who dropped to 2-8 on the season, 21-6 in the contest and limited the visitors to just one shot in the second half. Femia made 10 saves in goal for the Jaguars.
Both team has scoring opportunities in the first half, but play was somwhat hindered by the heavy rains that fell prior to the contest and during the first 45 minutes of the game.
Notre Dame, which does not play home again until October 6 when it hosts top-ranked Connecticut, will play two games on the road this weekend in California versus Santa Clara (Oct. 9) and Saint Mary’s (Oct. 11).