Top-Ranked Stanford Is Next Challenge For Irish, In NCAA Round Of 16

Nov. 21, 2002

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NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
NCAA THIRD ROUND – At Stanford
Sat., Nov. 23, 2002 (7:30 PST)

The 19th-ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team (13-7-0) faces a big challenge as it looks to continue its lateseason surge, with an NCAA third-round (final 16) matchup at top-ranked Stanford (20-1-0) on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:00 p.m. PST (the winner moves on to face the winner of Sunday’s game between Richmond and #8 seed Portland) … the Irish have won six of their last seven, including NCAA wins last week over Ohio State and #14 Purdue (both 3-1) …those games ended a rare 18-day layoff for the Irish, who have recovered from a series of injuries to several key players … ND holds a 4-2-0 series edge over Stanford (the teams were supposed to face one another last sesaon, Sept. 16 at Stanford, but the game was called off due to the Sept. 11 tragedy) … see linked PDF version for complete notes, with sidebar charts.

WEBSITES: For detailed information on Stanford, please consult www.gostanford.com.

LIVE AUDIO: The ND-Stanford game can be followed live via the internet, with a link at www.gostanford.com (note that no link is able to be provided at www.und.com).

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES AT ND SPORTS HOTLINE (574-631-3000): The Notre Dame sports hotline will provide periodic in-game updates (every 15-20 minutes of game time) of the ND-Stanford game, plus the customary postgame wrapup … for schedule and result information on all 26 Notre Dame varsity sports, call the ND Sports Hotline at (574) 631-3000 (press “4” for soccer information and then ‘2″ for women’s soccer results).

VERSUS #1: Notre Dame will be facing the top-ranked team in the NSCAA poll for the 11th time in the program’s history, with a record of 3-5-2 in previous games vs. #1 (2-4-2 vs. UNC, 1-1-0 vs. Santa Clara) …the first year of the Randy Waldrum era (1999) saw the Irish play three games vs. #1-ranked teams, losing the opener in double OT (3-2, vs. UNC) and losing a 4-2 midseason game at Santa Clara – before getting revenge on the Broncos in the NCAA semifinals

NCAA HISTORY (full results pp. 3-5): Notre Dame has played in every NCAA Championship since 1993, including six trips to the College Cup semifinals in the last eight years, four title-game appearances (’94-’96, ’99) and the 1995 championship season … the Irish own an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 26-8-1 (.757, second-best in NCAA record book), with four losses coming at the hands of UNC in title games (5-0 in ’94, 1-0 in OT in ’96, 2-0 in ’99, 2-1 in ’00) … ND dropped its first-ever NCAA Tournament game to George Mason in 1993 (2-1) while ending the ’97 season with an NCAA semifinal loss to UConn (2-1) and closing ’98 with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Portland at Alumni Field … that game and the 2001 second-round loss to Cincinnati (3-2) remain ND’s only postseason losses at home (28-2-0; 20-2-0 in NCAAs) … the Irish claimed the 1995 NCAA title with a semifinal win over UNC (1-0) and a triple-OT win over Portland in the title game (1-0) … ND is 18-3-1 in its last 22 postseason games (54-16 scoring edge), 23-4-1 in the last 28 (67-17).

MIRRORED OFFENSES: Notre Dame and Stanford have posted similar offensive numbers in 2002 while competing against two of the nation’s strongest schedules … the Irish have played eight games vs. NSCAA top-25 teams (at game time, plus four others ranked at some point in ’02) while Stanford has played 11 teams ranked in the top 25 at game time … Stanford holds slight per-game statistical edges over ND in goals (2.56 to 2.27), shots (18.4 to 16.5) and corner kicks (6.67 to 5.45) while the teams have near-identical shooting percentages (Stanford at .139, or 7.17 shots per goal, and ND at .140/7.15).

TWO PAIRS OF TOP FRONTRUNNERS: Another similarity between the ND and Stanford attacks is the fact that both are led by a pair of scorers who all have totaled 9-11 goals and 26-33 points … ND’s leading scorers are junior forwards Amanda Guertin (11G-11A/33 pts, 5 GWG) and Amy Warner (9G-8A/26 pts, 3 GWG) while the Cardinal are led by senior Marcia Wallis (12G-7A/31 pts, 6 GWG) and junior Marcie Ward (10G-13A/33 pts, 4 GWG) … those four players also have strong career numbers, with each owning 27-48 goals (Wallis 48, Guertin 37, Ward 34 and Warner 27) and 67-116 points (Wallis 116, Ward 106, Guertin 95 and Warner 67) … in yet another similarity up front, both team’s third forwards are freshmen who have played for their respective U.S. and Canada under-19 national teams: Stanford’s Jennifer Farenbaugh (7G-4A) and ND’s Katie Thorlakson (4G-3A).

NETMINDER FOCUS: The biggest “x factor” in Saturday’s game could be the goalkeepers … Stanford sophomore Nicole Barnhart has yielded just four goals, with a nation-leading 0.19 goals-against average and 17 shutouts (no teams has scored more than one goal vs. her) … Erika Bohn – the first freshman to start in the nets for ND since 1993 – has made strides throughout 2002, with a 1.27 season GAA … Bohn has played a key role in the current 6-1-0 streak, allowing just six goals in those games (three shutouts, three games with one goal allowed and a 3-2 loss to BYU, with the last goal coming on a rare late-game PK) … Barnhart and Bohn were teammates on a U.S. Olympic Development team that toured Europe in 2000.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Stanford also has an edge in senior experience, with six seniors on the squad while midfielder Ashley Dryer is ND’s only healthy senior (D Vanessa Pruzinsky is out with a season-ending ankle injury) … Stanford’s starting lineup includes four seniors: F Marcia Wallis and the M trio of Callie Withers, Aly Marquand and Kelsey Carlson … the team rosters are basically even in the junior class (six for ND, seven for Stanford) – with five of those juniors starting for the Irish (Fs Amanda Guertin and Amy Warner, M Randi Scheller, central D Melissa Tancredi and right back Kim Carpenter) … ND has three freshmen in its starting lineup (F Katie Thorlakson, central D Cat Sigler and G Erika Bohn) while the Cardinal has three rookie starters: F Jennifer Farenbaugh and twin Ds Hayley and Lindsey Hunt … Stanford had the edge with returning starters (9) and letterwinners (18), compared to an ND squad that returned seven starters (one out with injury) and 12 LWs (two inactive due to injury).

YOUNG IN THE BACK: Both teams are youngest in the defensive third … ND’s five defensive players include two freshmen (central D Cat Sigler, G Erika Bohn) plus three non-senior veterans who have converted to defense: junior F Melissa Tancredi, junior M Kim Carpenter and sophomore Candace Chapman (played mostly F and M prior to college) … Stanford typically starts freshman twins Hayley and Lindsey Hunt in the defense, alongside juniors Natalie Spilger and Alisan Pabon (with sophomore Nicole Barnhart in the goal).

ON A ROLL: Notre Dame has six wins in its last seven (19-6 scoring edge) while the Cardinal are riding a 13-game win streak (12 shutouts).

INSIDE THE ND-STANFORD SERIES
Notre Dame holds a 4-2-0 series edge versus Stanford, with wins in each of the last four meetings (dating back to ND’s 1995 NCAA Championship season) …the Irish hold a slim scoring edge in the series (10-7), with the last two wins coming by one goal … here’s a look at the previous six games

1992 – The young Irish program (fifth season) drops a 3-0 game to #2 Stanford at the Golden Dome Classic, with goals by Sarah Rafanelli and Jennifer Stephan (2).

1993 – Third-ranked ND’s 14-game win streak ends in 3-1 OT loss to #9 Stanford, at Cardinal Classic … Michelle McCarthy gives Irish an early lead but Rafanelli ties the game and scores again in OT, as does Carmel Murphy.

1995 – The #2-ranked Irish set a team record with their sixth straight shutout (2-0), holding #3 Stanford to four shots while extending nation’s longest regular-season unbeaten streak (32) … ND opens scoring on rare goal from assist master Holly Manthei while Shannox Boxx (MVP of the ND Invitational) adds a goal shortly before halftime … the game marks the return of ND star midfielder Cindy Daws from injury (she helped set up Manthei’s goal, minutes after entering the game).

1996 – Freshman sensation Jenny Streiffer scores twice for the top-ranked Irish in 4-0 win over #18 Stanford, extending ND’s road winning streak to 14 games (24 overall) … Daws and Monica Gerardo score to cap a three-goal in flurry in a nine-minute, second-half stretch.

1999 (NCAA round of 16) – Mia Sarkesian scores off the bench in the 81st minute – stopping a clearance and sending an 18-yard crossing shot into the upper right corner – as #5 ND holds off #8 Stanford … the Cardinal were poised to tie the game in the 83rd minute but Ronnie Fair’s PK (after a hand-bal) hits off the left post and then stunningly smacks off the right post as well … Stanford’s Kelly Adamson had two near-goals in the first half (Vanessa Pruzinsky cleared one shot off the line and LaKeysia Beene saved a diving-header shot) … ND posts a 15-9 shot edge (9-6 CKs).

2000 – The #4 Irish beat #10 Stanford at the ND Classic, on an owl goal in OT (2-1) … ND’s constant pressure (18-3 shot edge) forced the GWG … Carly Smolak makes 15 saves while the Cardinal loses Callie Withers to a red-card violation in the 82nd minute (after reacting to a foul by pushing down an ND player) … the regulation goals come on similar sequences, with ND’s Amy Warner one-touching her score off a pass from Ashley Dryer in the 35th minute while Kelly Carlson and Celine DeLeon set up a Marcia Wallis’ quick counterattack goal in the 56th minute … the game ends when an Anne Makinen pass springs Warner down the right flank … her low cross is swept away near the right post but the ball deflects off a Stanford player angling back on the play (sliding inside the post with 0:18 left in the first OT).

ROUND-OF-16 REMATCH: Five Stanford players and one from Notre Dame (M Ashley Dryer) remain from the 1999 NCAA round-of-16 showdown … Dryer had an early scoring chance in that game and totaled four shots … Stanford’s holdovers from that game include Callie Withers (reserve) and four starters: F Marcia Wallis, D Aly Marquand and midfielders Becky Myers and Kelsey Carlson.

VS. THE PAC-10: Notre Dame owns a 9-2-0 all-time record vs. Pac-10 schools, with all but one of those games coming vs. Stanford (4-2-0) or Washington (4-0-0) – plus the 8-0 win over UCLA in the 1997 NCAA quarterfinals … Randy Waldrum’s career as a women’s soccer coach includes a 4-3-2 record vs. the Pac-10 (2-0 vs. Stanford, 1-1 vs. Washington, 0-1-1 vs. UCLA, 0-1 vs. USC, 0-0-1 vs. Cal and 1-0 vs. Oregon).

ND-STANFORD POSTSEASON HISTORY: The Irish and Cardinal have met in head-to-head NCAA postseason action in several other sports during recent years – with the first postseason matchup between the schools coming way back in the 1924 Rose Bowl (a 27-10 victory for ND’s Four Horsemen-led squad, in an era before the team was known as the Fighting Irish) … the Stanford women’s volleyball team beat ND in the 1998 NCAAs while the Irish baseball team dropped a pair of tight games vs. Stanford (4-3, 5-3) at the 2002 College World Series … Stanford defeated ND in the 1992 NCAA men’s tennis championship matchup (5-0, at Georgia) while Stanford has posted three NCAA tournament wins over ND in women’s tennis (5-0 in ’93, 5-1 in ’94 and ’95).

PLAYING THE BEST: ND has played some of its best soccer vs. ranked opponents, with a 21-9-2 record vs. ranked teams in the Waldrum era (since ’99) … that trend held true in 2001 (5-1-0): 2-1 vs. Penn St., 2-0 vs. Hartford, 2-1 vs. WVU, 3-0 vs. Miami, 0-3 at UConn, 2-1 vs. Michigan … the Irish own 2002 wins over #25 Maryland (5-2), #8 UConn (3-1) and #13 Michigan (1-0), with losses to ranked teams Santa Clara (0-4), Portland (0-1), WVU (0-3) and Purdue (1-3) … over the course of the 2001 and ’02 seasons, ND owns a 9-5-0 record vs. NSCAA top-25 teams (21-5-1 vs. unranked teams).

ROUND-OF-16 SUCCESS: Notre Dame is 7-0-0 in previous NCAA round-of-16 games (24-2 scoring edge), with four seasons ending in the NCAA title game (1994-96, ’99), two in the semifinals (’97, ’00) and one in the quarterfinals (’98), plus last year’s second-round exit (final 32) … ND’s round-of-16 wins break down as follows (the Irish were higher ranked in all seven games): #1 ND over #16 George Mason (’94, 3-1), #4 ND over #18 Wisconsin (’95, 5-0), #2 ND over #14 Wisconsin (’96, 5-0), #2 ND over #6 Nebraska (’97, 6-0), #4 ND over #13 Nebraska (2-1), #3 ND over #8 Stanford (’99, 1-0) and #1 ND over Harvard (’00, 2-0).

RARE UNDERDOG ROLE: In its storied women’s soccer history, Notre Dame has faced a higher-ranked opponent (in the NSCAA poll) just 33 times in 331 all-time games … the Irish have compiled nearly a .500 record when facing a higher-ranked opponent (13-16-4), including 11-8-3 since ’93 (when ND made its first trip to the NCAAs) and 6-5-1 in the four-year Randy Waldrum era (3-2-0 in ’02) … if the Irish upset top-ranked Stanford, it would rank as one of the program’s biggest upsets (in relation to poll position) since the unranked 1991 team posted a 4-0 win at #22 Cincinnati … earlier this season, after the Irish had fallen out of the top-25 poll, ND bounced back with noteworthy upsets of #9 UConn (3-1) and at #13 Michigan (1-0) … the only time that a ranked ND team has beaten a team ranked five-plus spots higher came in 1992, when the #20 Irish bested #14 Wisconsin (1-0) … see PDF version for list of ND’s 13 wins over higher-ranked teams.

VS. TOP-FIVE FOES: Notre Dame owns a 19-14-3 all-time record when facing a team ranked in the top five of the NSCAA poll (17-9-3 since 1995 and 3-4-1 in the four-year Randy Waldrum era) … ND’s most recent wins over top-five opponents include: 1-0 vs. #1 Santa Clara in the 1999 NCAA semifinals (San Jose), 6-1 over #2 SCU in a 2000 game at ND’s Alumni Field and 1-0 over #3Nebraska in a 2001 home game … other top-five opponents faced in the Waldrum era include the 1-1 tie at #4 Nebraska in the 1999 NCAA quarterfinals (ND advanced on PKs) and losses to #1 UNC in the ’99 opener (2-3, 2OT), at #1 SCU in ’99 (2-4), vs. UNC in the ’99 NCAA title game (0-2) and the 2000 title game (1-2) … ND’s 19 all-time wins over top-five opponents include four on that opponent’s field: at #1 UNC in the 1995 NCAA semifinals (1-0), at #4 UConn in 1996 (2-1), at #3 Portland in 1997 (1-0), and at #3 UConn in the 1998 BIG EAST final (1-0) … the 1995 national championship season included seven games in which the Irish faced top-five opponents (5-2-0).

ON THE OPPONENT’S FIELD: Notre Dame has met with mixed results on the road this season (5-3-0), with the high points including wins at Maryland, Michigan and Boston College (plus vs. Hartford, at Maryland) while the lowlights include a three-game road losing streak (at Villanova, Georgetown and West Virginia).

FRIEND OR FOE?: Several Notre Dame and Stanford players are former teammates or opponents … ND freshman G Erika Bohn was a teammate of Stanford G Nicole Barnhart with the Olympic Developmental team that toured Europe in 2000 … Bohn also played club soccer with Stanford sophomore M Amy Grady …ND junior F Amanda Guertin and Stanford senior D Katherine Harrington were teammates on the Texas Image club team … Guertin also played on ODP with teams with Stanford junior D Allison Pabon … ND sophomore D Mary Boland (and injured freshman M/D Annie Schefter) are products of the U.S. Under-19 national-team program, as are the following Stanford players: freshmen D Lyndsey and Haley Hunt, sophomore F Natalie Sanderson … Boland also has played in the national-team program with Stanford freshman F Jennifer Farenbaugh while Schefter played with Stanford freshman M Leah Tapscott in their regional pool … ND senior M Ashley Dryer played on ODP regional teams with three Stanford seniors (F Marcia Wallis, M Aly Marquand and M Callie Withers) … ND junior M Randi Scheller played alongside Stanford junior F Marcie Ward on the U.S. Under-18 national team … ND junior Lauren Kent was a club teammate of Stanford junior M/F Brittany Oliveira and a common opponent of two other current Stanford players (Marquand and junior D Natalie Spilger) … ND sophomore M Sarah Halpenny also played club soccer vs. Marquand and Spilger.

THEY KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE: Saturday’s game will mark ND’s first visit to the Bay Area since the 1999 (runner-up) and 2000 NCAA College Cups (held at San Jose’s Spartan Stadium) … the Irish actually were slated to play a pair games in the San Jose area last season (at Santa Clara and Stanford) but those games were cancelled after the Sept. 11 national tragedy … the Stanford game will mark the sixth time that ND has played an NCAA game in the Bay Area, including: at Santa Clara in the 1996 semifinals (3-2 vs. Portland) and the title game vs. UNC (0-1 vs. UNC, in OT), the 1999 final weekend at Spartan Stadium (1-0 vs. SCU, 0-2 vs. UNC), and the 2002 semifinals (1-2 vs. UNC).

ND ALL-TIME IN CALIFORNIA: Notre Dame owns a 4-6-0 all-time record in games played in the state of California (all in the Bay Area) … in addition to the NCAA games in the above note, the other five games include: the 1993 Stanford tournament (1-3 vs. Stanford, 4-0 vs. Santa Clara), the 1996 SCU tournament (4-0 vs. Stanford, 1-3 vs. SCU) and a 4-2 loss at SCU in 1999.

GOING BACK TO CALI: Notre Dame’s widespread player roster includes two players from Northern California – freshman Ds Cat Sigler (Windsor/Ursuline HS) and Miranda Ford (Portola Valley/Palo Alto HS) – plus a pair of Southern California natives in junior G Lauren Kent (Laguna Niguel/Santa Margarita Catholic HS) and sophomore M Sarah Halpenny (Glendale/Immaculate Heart HS) … ND’s all-time roster includes 15 other California natives, led by some of the top players in the program’s history:

• Goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene (Gold River), now with Bay Area Cyber Rays and U.S. National Team
• Midfielder Shannon Boxx (Torrance), a top player with WUSA’s San Diego Spirit
• Midfielder Cindy Daws (Northridge), the 1996 national college player of the year
• Forward Monica Gerardo (Simi Valley), now starring for the Washington Freedom
• Forward Rosella Guerrero (Sacramento), clutch goalscorer and senior leader of ’95 NCAA title team
• Goalkeeper Michelle Lodyga (Mission Viejo), one of early leaders of Irish program
• Goalkeeper Jen Renola (Los Gatos), shutouts in all four 1995 NCAA games
• Defender Ashley Scharff (Danville), starter on back line for ’95 NCAA champs

Four of the above players – Guerrero, Daws, Renola and Beene – earned All-America honors with the Irish.

CYBER RAYS STARS: Two key starters with the WUSA’s Bay Area Cyber Rays – G LaKeysia Beene and D Kelly Lindsey – were teammates at Notre Dame in the late 1990s … both ended their college careers in the College Cup at Spartan Stadium (Beene in 1999 and Lindsey in 2000).

LINEUP STABILIZES: Despite an onslaught of injuries, the Irish have fielded a strong lineup in the last seven games (6-1-0) … junior Melissa Tancredi has moved from F to central D, dominating in the air (she won all 18 heading duels vs. UConn and scored on a CK header) to go along with her physical play and strong tackling … freshman Katie Thorlakson has moved up to F (scoring vs. UConn, BYU, Syracuse and Ohio State), senior M Ashley Dryer has returned from her seven-game injury layoff and sophomore Mary Boland has shifted up to defensive M, shutting down UConn playmaker Sarah Popper and BYU All-American Aleisha Cramer-Rose … sophomore Candace Chapman – who started at midfield and forward in recent weeks – has returned to D (left back), with junior M Kim Carpenter now at right back … ND’s other starters have been at their spots all season: junior Fs Amanda Guertin and Amy Warner, junior M Randi Scheller and freshman central D Cat Sigler (each has started all 20 games) – plus freshman G Erika Bohn (18 GS).

SECOND SEASON GIVES NEW LIFE: Notre Dame tied for fourth in the BIG EAST Conference Mid-Atlantic Division standings (3-3-0) but did not advance to the BIG EAST Tournament based on the head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Georgetown (a last-minute goal gave the Hoyas a 4-3 win) … the Irish had a 7-3-0 overall BIG EAST record when including cross-divisional games (which do not factor into determining BIG EAST Tournament bids), highlighted by a 3-1 win over eventual champion UConn and a 1-0 win at BC (Northeast Division No. 3 seed) … ND’s regular-season schedule included 10 opponents that made the NCAA field, led by national seeds UConn (4), West Virginia (5), Santa Clara (6) and Portland (8) … other ND opponents that made the NCAAs were BYU, Maryland, Michigan, Villanova, Purdue and Hartford … ND’s 2002 opponents combined to win nearly 65 percent of their games (213-124-23) and only four had losing records (BYU, SCU, UConn and Hartford won their conference titles).

HEAD COACH RANDY WALDRUM: The Irish are 74-15-3 (.821) in the four-year tenure of head coach Randy Waldrum, including a 63-12-3 mark in the last 78 games (since losing 4-2 at SCU on Oct. 17, 1999) … Waldrum’s ND record also spans the career of the team’s only two seniors, M Ashley Dryer and injured D Vanessa Pruzinsky … Waldrum – who repeated as BIG EAST coach of the year in 2000 – in ’99 became the only coach in the 18-year history of the NCAA women’s soccer championship to lead a team to the title game in his first season as that team’s head coach … he was the fourth first-year coach to take his team to the NCAA semi’s, with the Irish beating top-ranked and previously unbeaten Santa Clara in their backyard of San Jose … Waldrum’s 21-year record as a college head coach (with both men’s and women’s teams) is 257-120-22 (.672) … he owns a 181-64-15 (.725) record in 13 seasons as a Division I women’s coach, including 61-36-9 in six years at Tulsa (.580) and 46-14-3 in three seasons at Baylor … Waldrum entered the 2002 season ranked sixth among active women’s coaches for career winning percentage (min. 10 Div. I seasons).

PRIMETIME PLAYERS: Notre Dame is 24-7-1 during the past three seasons when facing a ranked team and/or playing in the postseason, with a 69-32 scoring edge in those 32 “big games” … junior F Amanda Guertin has racked up 50 points in those big games (20G-10A) … Guertin’s classmate Amy Warner owns 8G-5A vs. ranked or postseason opponents (she missed half of the 2000 season due to injury) … here are some other notes on ND’s postseason performers:

Amanda Guertin

• Owns 26 points in 14 postseason games with the Irish (12G-2A), placing her 9th at ND in career postseason points (one behind ’99 grad. Shannon Boxx).

• Already ranks 5th at ND in postseason goals, behind Anne Makinen and Monica Gerardo (both with 15) and Jenny Streiffer and Jenny Heft (each with 14).

• Her four postseason GWGs are one shy of Gerardo’s ND record.

*Has tied Streiffer’s team record by scoring the first goal in five postseason games.

• Her 18 career points in the NCAAs (8G-2A) are 4th in ND history, behind Gerardo (24), Makinen (20) and Holly Manthei (19, ’94-’97) – while her eight NCAA goals trail only Gerardo (10) and Heft (9).

• Has tied ND record held by Amy VanLaecke (’93-’96) for most career “first goals” in NCAA games (3).

• Scored five goals in 2001 postseason (tied for 3rd-best in ND history), including two GWGs (also 3rd, one shy of the record)

• Opened the scoring in three of those 2001 postseason games, one shy of Jenny Streiffer’s ND record (4, in ’99).

• Her three GWGs in NCAA tournament play rank behind only Gerardo (4) in the ND record book.

• Her goal vs. West Virginia in the 2001 BIG EAST final (2:33) is the 5th-quickest goal in ND postseason history (followed by her classmate Amy Warner’s goal at 2:43, two days earlier in the semifinals vs. BC).

Randi Scheller

• Her seven career postseason assists (in 14 GP/7 GS) are three shy of 8th place in ND postseason scoring history.

• Shares Irish record for gamewinning assists in one postseason (2, in 2000).

• NCAA all-time assist leader Holly Manthei (6, ’94-’97) is the only ND player with more career GWAs in the NCAAs than Scheller (2).

• Ranks 5th on the Irish list for most assists in one NCAA tournament (3, in ’01).

AMANDA GUERTIN NOTES

CLOSE TO CENTURY MARK, FAR FROM TOP 10: Junior Amanda Guertin’s career point total (95; 37G-21A) would rank near the top of the record book at many schools but she stands just 13th in Notre Dame history – 40 points shy of the top 10 (her 37G are six out of that ND top-10 list) … players ahead of Guertin include Suzie Zilvitis (112, 43G-26A, ’88-’91) and another early frontrunner, All-American Alison Lester (126, 45G-36A; ’90-’93) … the 10th spot is held down by Shannon Boxx (135, 39G-57A; ’95-’98), now a hard-nosed defensive midfielder with the WUSA’s San Diego Spirit … Guertin’s nine points in last week’s NCAA action vaulted her past several players on the ND scoring list: M Jody Hartwig (87; ’91-’94), F Amy VanLaecke (90; ’94-’96) and All-America M Tiffany Thompson (91; ’91-’94).

STREAK #1: Guertin scored a goal in the final 10 games of 2001 – the third-longest goal streak in Div. I women’s soccer history (Brandi Chastain had a 15-game streak for Santa Clara in ’90, Hartford’s Maria Kun an 11-game streak in ’97).

STREAK #2: Guertin has scored goals in ND’s last seven postseason games (and in nine of 14 career postseason games) … her postseason goal streak (10G-1A) includes BIG EAST Tournament goals vs. St. John’s, Boston College and West Virginia, followed by NCAA Tournament games vs. Eastern Illinois (2), Cincinnati, Ohio State (2) and Purdue (2).

STREAK #3: Guertin also heads into the Stanford game with points in each of the last eight games overall (7G-6A), after totaling 6G-5A in the first 12 games … Guertin’s 2002 point streak breaks down as follows: Purdue (G), UConn (2A), Michigan (G), BYU (A), Syracuse (2A), BC (G), Ohio State (2G) and Purdue (2G-1A).

‘TIS BETTER TO GIVE?: Despite a early-season dropoff in goal production, Guertin has emerged as one of the nation’s most dangerous playmakers due to pinpoint corner kicks and effectiveness on other set plays … she has one-third of ND’s assists in ’02 (11 of 34), besting her combined total in ’00 and ’01 (10) … eight of Guertin’s assists in ’02 have come via the CK – two each in comeback wins over #25 Maryland (5-2, to classmate Melissa Tancredi on 2nd and 4th goals) and #8 UConn (3-1, to junior M Randi Scheller and Tancredi after 1-1 tie), two more in the 6-0 win over Syracuse (to Scheller and sophomore M Mary Boland) and Tancredi’s header that capped the 3-1 NCAA win over #14 Purdue, plus the kick that produced freshman D Cat Sigler’s goal for 3-0 lead vs. Pittsburgh (4-0) … another Guertin set play (a free kick that clanged off the left post) set up Candace Chapman’s goal that opened the scoring vs. BYU (3-2 loss).

GETTING THE GWGs: Guertin continues to add clutch goals and assists to her career totals (37G-21A, in 66 GP) – with her 15 gamewinning goals ranking sixth on the ND all-time list (one behind three who are tied for third) … seven of Guertin’s GWGs have come in one-goal games, including three in OT (an ND record) … nearly half of Guertin’s career goals (15 of 37, or 40.5%) have been gamewinners – well ahead of the others on the GWG list.

QUALITY & QUANTITY: Guertin has delivered in countless clutch situations during her ND career:

Freshman Year (2000)

• Unassisted goal in OT to hold off upstart West Virginia and maintain #1 ranking (2-1)
• GWG vs. Boston College (2-1) to end ND’s only deficit of season (prior to NCAA semifinals)
• GWG in NCAA second-round win over Michigan (3-1)
• Pass that initiated Meotis Erikson’s OT goal vs. #4 Santa Clara (2-1), sending ND to NCAA College Cup semifinals

Sophomore Year (2001)

• GWG vs. #8 Penn State in Key Bank Classic (2-1)
• Direct score via corner kick for GWG vs. Georgetown (2-1)
• Flick pass as part of four-player, set-play sequence (goal by Mia Sarkesian) in 1-0 win over #3 Nebraska
• Free-kick cross that led to double-header goal (by Sarkesian), beating #19 WVU in another OT game (2-1)
• Scored both goals in win at Yale (2-0), then cashed in shanked clearance to beat Michigan in OT (2-1)
• Scored again directly on corner kick to open scoring vs. St. John’s in BIG EAST quarterfinal (2-0)
• Set up Amy Warner rebound goal, then scored for 2-0 lead in 3-0 win over BC (BIG EAST semi’s)
• Scored and provided corner kick that led to Randi Scheller’s late GWG vs. WVU in BIG EAST title game (2-1)
• Netted both goals in NCAA first-round win over Eastern Illinois (2-0)

Junior Year (2002)

• Provided pair of corner-kick assists (to Melissa Tancredi) and scored GWG in 5-2 comeback at #25 Maryland
• Duplicated that effort with CK assists to Scheller and Tancredi for final two goals of 3-1 comeback vs. #8 UConn
• Cashed in GWG in 59th minute for 1-0 win at #13 Michigan, her third career GWG vs. the Wolverines
• Set ND record by scoring third OT goal of her career, in 1-0 game at Boston College to close regular season
• Opened scoring before capping 3-1 win over Ohio State in NCAA first round
• Added two more goals and 8th corner-kick assist of season (to Tancredi) in NCAA 2nd-round win over #14 Purdue (3-1)

CHAPMAN ENTERING ELITE STATUS: Notre Dame sophomore Candace Chapman was named the 2002 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year last week, during a time when she was starring with the full Canadian National team at the Gold Cup (the North and Central American qualifying tournament for the 2003 World Cup) … Chapman was one of 11 players named to Gold Cup all-tournament team (an honor she also received two months ago at the Under-19 World Championship) … considered one of the world’s top young players, Chapman started at right midfield and right outside back in the Gold Cup, with Canada losing to the U.S. in the final game (2-1 in overtime, played at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles) … that unique experience saw Chapman playing face-to-face with legendary U.S. stars such as Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Tiffeny Milbrett (Chapman is a leading contender to be on Canada’s 2003 World Cup roster)..

GAINING EXPERIENCE: One of the keys to Notre Dame’s 2002 postseason success could be how the Irish hold up in the defensive third, where the four defenders and freshman G Erika Bohn have combined to make just 120 starts on the collegiate level, with 155 games played … some of those 120 starts have come at different positions, for junior right back Kim Carpenter, sophomore left back Candace Chapman and junior central back Melissa Tancredi (Chapman did not play defense until starting her college career while Tancredi made the shift to defense last month, due to three season-ending injuries in the back) … Chapman is the only defensive starter who previously had started a postseason game for the Irish in the defensive third (4, in 2001) … the OSU game marked the first time that the Irish have started a goalkeeper with no college postseason experience since Jen Renola in the 1993 MCC Tournament (Bohn was the first G to make her NCAA debut without any conference tournament warmup games) … by contrast, the 2001 defensive starters headed into the 2001 NCAAs with 334 career games played and 246 starts among the five players.

KEY PIECE OF PUZZLE: The return of senior M Ashley Dryer sparked the 3-1 win over #8 UConn (Oct. 13) … in the previous seven games (when Dryer was sidelined with knee and ankle injuries), ND had totaled just 12 goals while allowing 12 by the opposition (three games in which the opponents scored 3-plus) … in the seven games since Dryer’s return, ND has owned a 19-6 scoring edge and 131-53 shot edge (65-29 in shots on goal, 41-18 in corner kicks).

LIGHTING THE SPARK: Freshman Katie Thorlakson – a key part of Canada’s attack in the Under-19 World Championship – has experienced an offensive breakthrough, scoring to tie the game in the 3-1 comeback vs. #8 UConn, adding the goal that forged a 1-1 tie vs. BYU (3-2 loss), posting 1G-1A in the 6-0 win over Syracuse and scoring what proved to be the GWG vs. Ohio State in the NCAA first round (she also had the thru-ball that sprung Amanda Guertin for the first goal in the NCAA win over Purdue) … all four of Thorlakson’s 2002 goals have come during the last seven games, coinciding with her full-time move to forward.

VETERAN LEADERS: Notre Dame’s starting forwards and midfielders include four battle-tested veterans (one senior and three juniors) who have combined for 271 games played, 225 starts, 86 goals and 63 assists … juniors Amy Warner (59 GP/52 GS, 29G-13A, 9 GWG) and Amanda Guertin (66 GP/62 GS, 37G-21A, 15 GWG) – a.k.a. “fire and ice” – have the makings of becoming one of ND’s top all-time forward classmates while junior Randi Scheller (65 GP/45 GS, 17G-15A) and senior Ashley Dryer (81 GP/66 GS, 3G-12A) provide experience in the midfield.

PRUZINSKY, GUNNARSDOTTIR OUT FOR SEASON: ND entered 2002 looking to replace three of five starters from the defensive third … in addition to season-ending injuries to Vanessa Pruzinsky and Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, the Irish have played all season without highly-touted freshman Annie Schefter – a candidate at left back who was a starter with the U.S. Under-19 National Team and was rated by Soccer America as the No. 11 incoming freshman … Ashley Dryer – one of the nation’s premier defensive midfielders – missed five games and parts of two others, due to nagging knee and ankle injuries … Pruzinsky – the BIG EAST preseason defensive player of the year, after starting 72 of ND’s 73 games in her first three seasons – was slowed by a nagging ankle injury, playing just the first 50 minutes of the Sept. 6 Santa Clara game and 60 minutes in the lategoing of the Sept. 20 Rutgers game (ND did not allow a goal in either stretch) … Gunnarsdottir – the BIG EAST defensive player of the week after opening wins over Providence and Virginia Tech – missed six games with a foot injury (Sept. 13-29), played sparingly vs. Pitt. and started vs. WVU and Purdue, before being sidelined in the late moments of the Purdue game (she had surgery on Oct. 10 to repair ligament damage in her right ankle) … Pruzinsky (4.0 GPA, as chemical engineering major) may have the option to apply for a fifth year of eligibility.

INJURY TOLL REACHES 60 GAMES: An assortment of injuries and illnesses have forced six of the team’s top-13 players to miss a combined 60 games (not including partial games missed, or misses for Under-19 World Championship) … the games missed include 18 by senior D Vanessa Pruzinsky, five by senior M Ashley Dryer and two by sophomore D/F Mary Boland – plus freshman D/M Annie Schefter (20, season-ending ACL injury), sophomore D Gudrun Gunnarsdottir (13, including last 7) and junior F/D Melissa Tancredi (2) … Pruzinsky, Gunnarsdottir and Schefter are expected to miss the rest of the season.

FAR AND WIDE: Notre Dame’s typical starting 11 (from 10 states/provinces) is representative of the school’s national student body … the 21-player roster includes players from 12 states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington), two Canadian provinces (British Columbia and Ontario) and Iceland.

PUNCHING THE CLOCK: Three Notre Dame juniors are riding streaks of 35-plus consecutive starts … Amanda Guertin has played in all 66 games of her ND career (62 starts), with starts in the last 35 … fellow F Amy Warner has seen action in ND’s last 48 games (42 straight starts) … midfielder Randi Scheller has started ND’s last 37 games and has played in 65 of 66.

GOING THE DISTANCE: Notre Dame is unbeaten in its last 13 overtime games (10-0-3), dating back to the 3-2, double-OT loss to UNC in the ’99 opener … that team went on to post a 2-1, double-OT win at UConn and played to a 1-1 tie at Nebraska in the NCAA quarterfinals (advanced on PKs) … the 2000 team had three OT wins – over Stanford, at West Virginia and vs. Santa Clara in the NCAA quarterfinals (all 2-1), also playing to a scoreless tie at UConn … the ’01 season featured an unprecedented five OT games, with 2-1 wins vs. Indiana, Villanova, WVU and Michigan and a 2-2 tie with Wisconsin … the OT streak continued in 2002, with 1-0 wins over Rutgers and at Boston College.

OT MASTERS: Junior Amanda Guertin holds the ND record for career OT goals (3), with her classmate Amy Warner and ’96 national player of the year Cindy Daws ranking second with two OT goals (including Daws’ goal vs. Portland in the ’95 NCAA title game) … 11 other former ND players have scored one OT goal … Guertin (3G-2A) owns eight career points in OT, followed by Warner (6; 2G-2A) … Guertin’s other OT goals came at West Virginia in 2000 and at home vs. WVU in 2001 (both 2-1) … in addition to her double-OT goal on Sept. 20 vs. Rutgers (1-0), Warner scored in OT vs. Villanova (’01) and had the primary assist on Kelly Tulisiak’s OT goal in the ’01 win over Indiana (both 2-1) … she had the cross that produced an OT own-goal to beat Stanford in 2000 and assisted on Guertin’s OT goal in the 2002 regular-season finale at BC (1-0), thus playing a key role in five of ND’s last nine OT goals (Guertin has scored or assisted on five of the last eight).

BOLAND NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: Notre Dame sophomore Mary Boland (Hudson, Ohio) has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District V team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America … with her selection to the 11-player team, Boland now qualifies for the 2002 women’s soccer Academic All-America ballot (TBA in late Nov.) … Boland – a psychology major with a 3.85 GPA – is a versatile player who formally was named to the team as a defender (she has started at F, M and left back) …. one of just two sophomores named to the Academic All-District V team, Boland is ND’s fourth-leading goalscorer (5G-0A) … her 2002 season highlights include a diving header to beat Seton Hall (1-0) and key defensive play in wins over Rutgers (1-0) and then-#8 UConn (3-1) … the ND women’s soccer team produced nine Academic All-American selections from 1995-2001, including two in both 2000 and ’01… current senior D Vanessa Pruzinsky – who became just the second Notre Dame student-athlete ever named a first team Academic All-American as a sophomore and a junior – was not eligible for consideration this year due to her season-ending ankle injury (she owns a 4.0 GPA as a chemical engineering major).

SCORING STREAKS: Notre Dame – which has not been shut out in its last 14 postseason games, since the 1-0 loss to UNC in the ’99 title game – carried a 31-game scoring streak into this season’s Sept. 6 Santa Clara game (third-best in ND history, behind a 55-game streak from ’97-’99 and a 36-game streak from ’95-’96), with the streak ending in a 4-0 loss to SCU (followed by 1-0 loss to Portland and 3-0 loss at WVU) … the previous time that the Irish had failed to score was the 0-0 tie at UConn (10/22/00) … since 1994, ND has scored in 158 of 164 (.963) regular-season games (0-0 tie vs. UNC in ’94, 2-0 loss to UNC in ’95) and 51 of 54 postseason games (three shutout losses to UNC in NCAA title games).

CHAPMAN NAMED BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Notre Dame sophomore Candace Chapman (Ajax, Ontario) has been named the 2002 BIG EAST Conference women’s soccer defensive player of the year … Chapman – who recently returned from playing with the Canadian National Team at the Gold Cup, as a starting outside midfielder/defender – follows former ND greats Kate Sobrero (’97) and Jen Grubb (’98, ’99) as the third Irish player ever named BIG EAST defensive player of the year (since ’95) … she is ND’s youngest player (by class) ever to receive any player-of-the-year honor from the BIG EAST … Chapman has made starts in 2002 at right, left and one of the central back spots (plus midfield and forward) as the Irish have juggled their lineup in the wake of injuries that sidelined starting defenders Vanessa Pruzinsky and Gudrun Gunnarsdottir, plus highly-touted freshman Annie Schefter (a probable starter in the back) … after missing the first two games of 2002 while playing at the Under-19 World Championship, Chapman started the final 16 games of the regular season, totaling three goals and five assists and earning defensive MVP honors at the Notre Dame Classic and the Maryland Classic … her goal after shifting to the midfield sparked a 5-2 comeback at #25 Maryland while she also scored versus Pittsburgh (in her first college start at forward), added an assist in the 3-1 win over #9 Connecticut and scored versus BYU.

WARNER REPEATS AS BIG EAST FIRST TEAMER: Junior forward Amy Warner (Albuquerque, N.M.) joined teammate Candace Chapman on the 2002 first team all-BIG EAST squad … Warner – who also was named first team all-BIG EAST as a freshman (2000) – currently ranks second on the team in goals (9) and points (24) … her three gamewinning goals included clutch scores versus Hartford (2-1) and Rutgers (1-0, double-OT) while she also netted her second career hat trick in the 4-3 loss at Georgetown … Warner’s six assists include the pass that set up Guertin’s overtime goal at Boston College (1-0) and assist on Katie Thorlakson and Guertin goals in the NCAA win over Ohio State (3-1) … she and Chapman are the ninth and 10th ND players ever named first team all-BIG EAST in multiple seasons, with Warner joining two-time honorees Jenny Heft (’98, ’99) and Jenny Streiffer (’96, ’99) as the only forwards among those nine repeaters.

SCHELLER, SIGLER ROUND OUT BIG EAST HONOREES: Junior M Randi Scheller (Kutztown, Pa.) was named second team all-BIG EAST while freshman D Cat Sigler (Windsor, Calif.) was named to the 2002 BIG EAST all-rookie team … Scheller – who joined Sigler, Amy Warner and Amanda Guertin as the only Irish players to start all 18 regular-season games – currently ranks as the team’s third-leading goalscorer (7), plus one assist … after splitting time during 2002 in the offensive and defensive midfielder roles, Scheller’s season highlights include the gametying goal vs. Hartford, the final goal vs. Maryland, the gamewinner vs. UConn and a two-goal game vs. Syracuse … Sigler has started all season at one of the central back spots, combining with the other defensive players to post eight shutouts and a 1.29 goals-against average … she headed in a Guertin corner kick for an early score in the 4-0 win over Pittsburgh.

BIG EAST HONOR NOTES: A total of 17 Notre Dame players have combined for 31 first team all-BIG EAST honors since 1995, with that group including six defenders combining for 11 first-team awards, three midfielders (nine awards), five forwards (eight awards) and three goalkeepers … Candace Chapman in 2001 joined Amy Warner (2000) as two of seven all-time ND players to earn first team all-BIG EAST honors as a freshman, with Chapman and Jen Grubb (’96) ranking as the only Irish defenders to be BIG EAST first-teamers as a rookie … the others include M Anne Makinen (’97) and Fs Monica Gerardo (’95), Jenny Streiffer (’96) and Meotis Erikson (’97).

FIRST-HALF FORTRESS: Notre Dame did not allow a 1st-half goal in its first nine games, with the next five games producing eight 1st-half goals by the opposition (2 by Georgetown and WVU, 3 by Purdue, 1 by UConn) – followed by just two opposing 1st-half goals in the last six games … ND (12) and its opponents (10) have combined for just 22 1st-half goals, compared to more than twice as many (48) in the 2nd half (32 by ND, 16 by the opponents) … the Irish also have allowed opponents an average of just 3.9 shots and 1.6 corner kicks in the first half this season … in the last 11 games, ND has matched its opponents’ scoring (10-10) in the 1st half but owns a 17-6 edge in the 2nd half … the Irish also were stingy in the first half during the 2001 season (seven 1st-half GA in 20 games).

HAT TRICKERY: Amy Warner’s three-goal effort at Georgetown (Sept. 29) made her the 13th ND player ever to post multiple hat tricks in her career (also vs. Providence on Sept. 3, 2000 – the earliest hat trick ever posted by an ND freshman) … 10 previous ND players have totaled three-plus hat tricks, led by Jenny Heft’s six (’96-’99), five each from Rosella Guerrero (’92-’95) and Monica Gerardo (’95-’98) and four by Michelle McCarthy (’92-’95).

PRIME-TIME FLURRY: ND’s outburst in the 5-2 win at #25 Maryland (all the Irish goals came in the final 25 minutes) is the most goals ever scored by the Irish vs. an NSCAA top-25 opponent on its home field … it matched the 6th-highest goalscoring day for the Irish in any game vs. a top-25 foe (2nd-most since ’97) and tied ND’s 2nd-highest goal output in a regular-season game vs. a top-25 team … ND’s top scoring games vs. top-25 teams include ’97 postseason wins over UConn (6-1, BIG EAST title game), Nebraska (6-0, NCAA 2nd rd) and UCLA (8-0, NCAA quarterfinal), plus 8-1 vs. Indiana in the ’96 NCAA 1st rd and 6-1 vs. Santa Clara in a 2000 regular-season meeting.

DRYER DOES IT AGAIN: Lost amidst the 4-0 loss to SCU was another stellar defensive effort from senior M Ashley Dryer (Salt Lake City, Utah) … Dryer essentially neutralized SCU’s star midfielder Aly Wagner (she did not factor into any goals), later was named to the Maryland Classic all-tournament team (lead role in midfield battle, while fighting off illness), and then combined with sophomore Mary Boland to hold Rutgers All-American Carli Lloyd (one shot) in check during a 1-0 OT win … in the 2001 BIG EAST Tournament, Dryer shut down BIG EAST midfielder of the year Sarah Rahko (BC) in the semifinals before holding another top M (Lisa Stoia) in check to help beat WVU in the title game.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN: Notre Dame welcomed back two players who competed in the Under-19 World Championship, held during late August in three Canadian cities … the exciting tournament was capped by a 1-0 OT U.S. win over Canada in the title game, with 47,000 fans in attendance at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium … Portland’s Christine Sinclair earned the “golden boot” award as the tournament’s top scorer (10 G) and formed a potent offensive tandem with ND freshman Katie Thorlakson (who played mostly as an attacking M) … ND sophomore Candace Chapman also was a starter with Canada, playing mostly right back while also shifting to central midfield … Irish freshman M Annie Schefter was on track to be a starter for the U.S. but was sidelined with an ACL knee injury in late July.

CONFERENCE CALL: ND’s all-time record in regular-season conference games is 86-7-2 (.916), including 67-7-2 (.895) in BIG EAST games (since ’95) … the Irish own a 48-1 record in all-time home games vs. BIG EAST teams, with 44 straight home wins vs. BIG EAST teams (5-4 OT loss to UConn in ’95) … the 44-game home win streak vs. BIG EAST teams includes a 225-16 scoring edge, 30 shutouts and 13 games with 1 GA (4-3 vs. UConn) … since joining the BIG EAST in ’95, ND’s all-time record in vs. BIG EAST teams (1-1-0 vs. UConn in NCAAs) is 86-8-2 (.906).

TOURNEY HONORS: Sophomore D Candace Chapman (Ajax, Ontario) was named defensive MVP of the ND Classic (Sept. 6-8) and the Maryland Fila Classic … Chapman – who made plays all over the field in the ND Classic battles with Santa Clara and Portland – opened the UP game at central defense (later shifting to right back), with strong marking of her Canadian national teammate Christine Sinclair… she played both positions vs. Hartford and started centrally vs. #25 Maryland, before shifting to midfield and sparking the 5-2 comeback by scoring the first ND goal (she cleared a 1st-half shot off the goalline). … junior F Melissa Tancredi (Ancaster, Ontario) was named the tournament’s offensive MVP … Tancredi was an emergency starter at central D in the Hartford game and was hampered by a nagging Achilles injury (she came off the bench vs. Maryland) … Tancredi’s hustle and physical presence changed the tenor of the Maryland game, with her headers providing the tying and 4-2 goals … ND’s all-tournament selections at the Fila Classic included junior F Amy Warner (GWG goal vs. Hartford, rebound shot to set up GWG vs. Maryland, unofficial assist on last ND goal), senior M Ashley Dryer – who turned in a gutsy effort while battling illness – and freshman G Erika Bohn, who registered a variety of big plays including a breakaway stop with the Hartford game tied and a lunging tip over the crossbar with the Irish trailing the Terps, 2-1 in the 75th minute.

FIRST-ROUND RECAP: Notre Dame turned to a pair of veteran goalscorers and a surging freshman to account for all the goals and the primary assists, in a 3-1 win over Ohio State … Amanda Guertin (2G) and Amy Warner (2A) continued to show improved interplay with Katie Thorlakson, who scored what proved to be the gamewinning goal … a turnover in the box gave Guertin a one-on-one chance with ‘keeper Emily Haynam and she calmly converted for the 1-0 lead (40:07) … Warner set up the second goal, using her speed to shake free for a shot that rebounded off Haynam (Thorlakson knock in the deflection, at 52:05) … OSU jumped back in the game, as a clearing attempt deflected off the leg of Colleen Hoban and went into the net (61:28) … Guertin capped the scoring in the 78th minute, as Warner raced onto a Candace Chapman throw-in and sent a cross from the left endline, with Guertin again sliding her try past Haynam (77:58).

OSU COACH LORI WALKER: “Notre Dame came at us with waves of speed. … In our scouting report, we told the team we didn’t know where (Chapman) was going to play. She has tremendous athleticism and comes forward with pace and vigor. But I think Warner gave us more fits. She is a tremendous player and was all over the place. … I was very impressed with the squad that Notre Dame has. I think there are going to be some teams that are going to be surprised at the speed at which Notre Dame is playing.”

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM ND COACH RANDY WALDRUM:

ON THE OSU GAME: “I thought we were great tonight. We talked about setting the tone. Every phase of our game was good. We were very solid defensively, the one little mistake on the goal was a bit of a fluke. In the midfield and up front we were really good. In particular, I think Gerty (Amanda Guertin) was great. She struggled earlier in the year but had a great week of training.”

ON THE LINEUP CHANGES: “Some of those changes that we have been able to do have finally put the pieces in place. Katie came in without really having any break and she also came in late and had to adjust to the college game. But the last month she has been playing really well.”

ON THE LONG LAYOFF: “We were so beat up physically that we needed the time off. Then you worry you might lose some continuity without any games. But tonight it was almost like it was the first game of the season again. They had that enthusiasm. …Ashley and Randi needed those two weeks off more than anybody. Ashley has been beat up but now she has that spark and explosiveness back. You can see how much of a difference it makes having her in there.”

TALE OF TWO GAMES: Even before last week’s NCAA second-round matchup, Purdue already had played a part in ND’s strange season, as the Boilermakers capitalized on a depleted lineup to hand the slumping Irish a 3-1 loss on Oct. 8 … that represented ND’s fourth loss in five games but the fortunes quickly changed five days later in a 3-1 win over #8 UConn … the return of junior D Melissa Tancredi and senior M Ashley Dryer (along with several other lineup shifts) sparked that momentum-shifting victory – with the Irish owning a 19-6 scoring edge during the current 6-1 surge.

IRISH POST ANOTHER NCAA REMATCH WIN: Nearly half of Notre Dame’s all-time NCAA games have featured rematches from games earlier that season, including last week’s second-round win over Purdue … the Irish now are 13-4-0 in all NCAA rematches, with losses to UNC in three NCAA titles games (’94, ’96 and ’99) and vs. UConn in the ’97 semifinals … ND had multiple NCAA rematches every year from 1994-2000 (except for 1998), including four in 1994 and three each in ’95 and ’96 … based on the current bracket setup, the Irish could advance to additional 2002 rematch games vs. Portland, UConn and Santa Clara.

POSTGAME QUOTES FROM ND HEAD COACH RANDY WALDRUM:

ON THE PURDUE GAME: “It was a typical Sunday game (second of weekend) for us. It wasn’t the attractive soccer we played Friday. We didn’t have the energy and intensity for a playoff game. With a thin bench, we knew mentally we’d have to get over the hump. A lot of credit to the kids for putting 90 minutes together. Last time we played them, we started three freshmen in the back, plus a freshman ‘keeper who is getting better every game. They caught us on two counterattacks in that game. We were a little bit undermanned last time, still searching for answers and trying to find a defense that was organized. I felt we had been the best team in the region and our strength of schedule has paid dividends at the end.”

ON RETURN OF KEY PLAYERS: Having Tancredi gives you more speed and more strength, somebody who physically can match up with most anybody in the country. And Ashley runs the show in the midfield. You could see how important she is with all of her experience. She keeps the mix together. Getting those two back allowed us to get other players into positions where they should be playing.”

ON SET-PLAY SUCCESS: “On those corner kicks with Guertin and Tancredi, it’s really difficult to defense unless you have an outstanding goalkeeper who is very good at clearing out the space and dealing with crosses. If they hit it right, it’s difficult to stop.”

ON UNSUNG HEROES: “Kim Carpenter is one of those you don’t hear a lot about but she has been pretty solid, can play anywhere and doesn’t worry about getting the credit. She’s one of those kids who really makes your team a team.”

PURDUE HEAD COACH ROB KLATTE: “(Tancredi) closed down Annette Kent. In all of the individual confrontations, I don’t remember one where she lost out on it. … They scored the first goal on a great individual effort and once they got the second we had a long road ahead of us – then they crushed a great set play for the third goal. That really was the nail in the coffin. … We weren’t able to punch in an early chance. The last time that made a huge difference. … You’ve got to give kudos to Notre Dame. They stayed organized and their individual technical talent allows them to slow the pace down when they want to. … They have a great team. We were trying to figure out ways to win the game. A month ago, we were able to get in behind them and had three shots and three goals. … Things opened up when their backs stepped up, picked up loose balls and started counters. Their backs have such athleticism and speed to slice through the midfield. And then you’ve got three forwards and the midfielders to deal with. We knew their backs would be aggressive going forward and that was the best time to catch a counter.”