Nov. 17, 2005

Nov. 16, 2005

The Notre Dame athletic department’s sports marketing office has announced a special transportation service available to Notre Dame students who wish to attend the Irish soccer games this Friday (Nov. 18) at Alumni Field. A TRANSPO bus will traverse a loop connecting three campus locations with the soccer field, allowing Notre Dame students quick access – to and from Alumni Field – as they cheer on the men’s and women’s soccer teams in their respective NCAA Tournament games.

The Friday-night Alumni Field bus loop will run from 4:00 p.m. to approximately 9:00 p.m. The shuttle service is free-of-charge and will make stops at the following campus locations (in addition to Alumni Field):

(1) Library Circle
(2) The Grotto
(3) McKenna Hall

The first 100 students at each game will be admitted free of charge, with other student tickets ranging from $3-$4 (per NCAA site-bidding policy).

The Notre Dame men open NCAA Tournament play on Friday with a 5:00 game vs. Western Illinois while the Irish women will continue in NCAA third-round action vs. Yale, at 7:30. This will mark the first time in the history of Notre Dame soccer that the men’s and women’s teams will play back-to-back in an NCAA Tournament setting. It also likely marks the final home games of the season for both teams; if the Irish men win, they next would play at IU while a win by the ND women likely would send them to a quarterfinal matchup at Portland next week (if the Pilots beat Arizona this weekend), with the semifinal and final games to be played at Texas A&M.

“Notre Dame students always have shown great school pride and support for the school’s athletic teams,” said seventh-year Irish women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum, whose team is in quest of a second consecutive NCAA title.

“Friday night will be a tremendous opportunity for them to show appreciation for the soccer players on both Irish teams who have represented the school with such distinction and class in recent years. We hope this shuttle service makes it a little easier and more convenient for them to support us on this important night.”

Notre Dame fifth-year men’s soccer head coach Bobby Clark likewise encourages students to meet the challenge of supporting the Irish during a busy time throughout the campus.

“We all know that this is a hectic time for everybody, with the final home football game this weekend and the Thanksgiving holiday coming up next week – but we hope the students can take a little break and cheer on their fellow students on Friday night,” said Clark.

Joe Lapira and the Irish men’s soccer team will be hoping to celebrate an NCAA Tournament win with their fellow students on Friday night at Alumni Field.

“It could be a bit frosty but we promise to heat everyone up with some exciting play and great hospitality. On behalf of both soccer teams, I would to thank all our fans, students and otherwise, who continue to support us as we battle on the road to the national championship.”

Eight members of the women’s soccer defending national champions could be playing the final home game of their career on Friday night. That prestigious senior class includes four regular starters – goalkeeper Erika Bohn, defender Candace Chapman, midfielder Annie Schefter and forward Katie Thorlakson – plus forward Maggie Manning, a regular contributor throughout the past four seasons and a “super-sub” presence off the bench this season. Other departing seniors include defenders Miranda Ford and Jenny Walz and forward Amber McMillin.

The 2005 Notre Dame men’s soccer team includes six seniors: defenders Ben Crouse and Dale Rellas, forward Tony Megna, goalkeeper Justin Michaud, and midfielders John Stephens and Jon Mark Thompson.