Sept. 10, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A career-high two goals from senior forward Steven Perry (Edmond, Okla./Bishop McGuinness) lifted the Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a 2-0 triumph of No. 22 Drake on Friday night at Alumni Stadium. The match was part of the ninth annual Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament.
Notre Dame (1-1-1) held a commanding 32-9 advantage in shots, including an 11-3 edge in shots on goal. The Fighting Irish also gained 10 more corner kicks (11-1) than Drake.
“Some of the soccer that was played here tonight was top-class,” stated Notre Dame head coach Bobby Clark. “The combinations and the controlled passing were very good. I guess the only disappointing thing is that when you amass 32 shots you feel like you should get more goals. But that will come as our confidence comes along.”
The Irish attacked the Bulldogs from the outset of the match. Perry sent a shot just wide to the right of the goal after making a run from the left side in the eighth minute. Five minutes later, he put a shot on frame that was saved by Bulldog goalkeeper Jordan Kadlec.
Drake (1-2-0) nearly capitalized on one of its few chances in the first half as a diving save from Irish junior goalkeeper Will Walsh (Morristown, N.J./Delbarton) was needed on a header from Charles Schwartz from close range in the 21st minute.
Kadlec saved a Jeb Brovsky (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain) shot from 16 yards out in the 22nd minute and the Bulldog goalkeeper also stopped the follow-up attempt from Irish midfielder Chris Sutton (Apple Valley, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary’s). Kadlec saved a rocket strike from sophomore midfielder Dillon Powers (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) in the 23rd minute.
All of the pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute as Powers played the ball ahead to junior midfielder Michael Rose (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) and he sent a cross to Perry from the right end line and the senior forward buried it home.
“Our first goal was fantastic,” commented Clark. “It was a tremendous pass by Dillon Powers to put Michael Rose in behind and then a great cross and Steven Perry hit it at the front post. That’s as pretty of a goal that I’ve seen.”
The Irish led 1-0 at halftime. Notre Dame out shot Drake 19-5 in the opening half. The Irish also gained six corner kicks in the stanza compared to none for the Bulldogs.
Rose nearly gave the Irish a two-goal edge in the 61st minute as his shot from the right end line went just wide of the far post.
Drake responded with some pressure of its own midway through the second half. A shot from Michael Noonen in the 68th minute was flicked just wide left of the net. The best chance of the night for the Bulldogs came in the 72nd minute as Michael Thaden blasted a shot on goal from 17 yards out and Walsh dove to his right for the save to preserve the Irish lead.
Walsh picked up his second consecutive shutout by making three saves on the night. Kadlec had nine stops for the Bulldogs.
Notre Dame put the game away in the 78th minute as a shot from freshman Harrison Shipp (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) was punched away by Kadlec, but Perry deposited the rebound to make it 2-0.
“It was good to see Perry get a couple of goals,” added Clark. “That’s important for the team. It was a solid performance for us tonight. There’s still room for improvement and I think Sunday’s game (vs. Cal Poly) will be a difficult game.”
Cal Poly defeated Indiana, 1-0, in the tournament’s first game on Friday.
The 2010 Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament will conclude on Sunday with Indiana taking on Drake at 11:30 a.m. (ET), followed by Notre Dame against Cal Poly at 2:00 p.m.
Alumni Stadium – Notre Dame, Ind.
September 10, 2010
Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament
#22 Drake (1-2-0) 0 0 – 0
Notre Dame (1-1-1) 1 1 – 2
Scoring: ND: Steven Perry (Dillon Powers, Michael Rose) 26:52; ND: Steven Perry (unassisted) 77:24
Shots: DU 5-4 – 9, ND 19-13 – 32
Corner Kicks: DU 0-1 – 1, ND 6-5 – 11
Goalkeepers: DU: Jordan Kadlec – 9 SV, 2 GA, 90:00, L; ND: Will Walsh – 3 SV, 0 GA, 90:00, W
Fouls: DU 4, ND 5
Offsides: DU 1, ND 1