Oct. 7, 2001

Final Stats

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Freshman Candace Chapman scored with eight minutes to play as the third-ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team clinched at least a share of the BIG EAST Conference Mid-Atlantic Division title, with a 2-1 win Sunday afternoon at Carroll Field.

Notre Dame (8-1-1-, 5-1-0 BIG EAST) had claimed an early lead on a goal from senior midfielder Mia Sarkesian but Seton Hall (3-7-1, 0-5-0) scored late in the opening half to forge a 1-1 tie.

The Irish faced the challenge of playing against a packed-in Seton Hall formation that often limited Notre Dame’s clean looks at the goal. Notre Dame racked up a 28-3 shot edge-including 18-1 in the first half-while attempting 13 corner kicks to SHU’s one (11-0 in the first half). SHU’s Leah Miller finished her busy day with 13 saves.

Chapman-who has played mostly in the defense for the Irish , after starring for the Canadian national program as a forward-was moved up to forward midway through the second half, as the Irish looked to retake the lead. The surging rookie delivered her third goal of the season (each coming in the last four games), after collecting a loose ball in the croweded penalty box area. Chapman used her moves and a quick burst of speed to gain some space to her right before drilling a low shot inside the left post for the 2-1 lead (81:27).

Sarkesian scored her third goal of the season-and third in the last five games-early in the opening half. Chapman played the ball into the box from the right side and Sarksian used a series of lateral moves from eight yards out before shaking free and sending a low shot inside the far left post (12:41).

After watching Notre Dame attempt the first 18 shots of the game, SHU scored on its only shot of the first half. Nattalie Smith moved the ball across the top of the box and Emily Fischer was running towards the left side before punching a 16-yard shot that popped over the head of Irish ‘keeper Liz Wagner and settled into the left side of the net (42:09).

#3 NOTRE DAME (9-1-1, 5-1-0 BIG EAST)       1   1   -   2SETON HALL (3-7-1, 0-5-0 BIG EAST)      1   0   -   1ND 1. Mia Sarkesian 3 (-) 12:41,  SHU 1. Emily Fischer 1 (Nattalie Smith)42:09,  ND 2. Candace Chapman 3 (-) 81:27.SHOTS: ND 18-10-28, SHU 1-2-3.CORNER KICKS: ND 11-2-13, SHU 0-1-1.SAVES: ND 1 (Liz Wagner), SHU 13 (Leah Miller).FOULS: ND 10, SHU 7.OFFSIDES: ND 2, SHU 3.