May 25, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team has announced its schedule for the 2004 season. The Irish will face defending National Champion Indiana, national runner-up St. John’s and a challenging BIG EAST Conference schedule. In addition, Notre Dame will play host to Indiana, Evansville and CS Fullerton for the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament on Sept. 10 and 12.
“We have put together another great schedule,” head coach Bobby Clark says.
“From start to finish there is no easy section and the last four league games are going to be exciting.”
The Irish will spend fall break on the road in late October, taking on St. John’s (Oct. 16), Seton Hall (Oct. 20) and Rutgers (Oct. 23) – three teams which competed in the NCAA Championship last season. Notre Dame will then return home to complete league play with Connecticut on Oct. 30.
“We are lucky that we play in a strong league which forces a strong schedule,” Clark says.
“If you do not have a great regular season schedule you will not be prepared for the post season. (Our schedule) prepares us for post season play.”
Before Notre Dame’s four games on the road in October, the Irish will face five consecutive home games at Alumni Field, beginning with Boston College (Oct. 1), followed by Loyola-Chicago (Oct. 3), Pittsburgh (Oct. 7), Syracuse (Oct. 10) and Michigan (Oct. 13).
Notre Dame is coming off its most successful season in school history, posting a 16-3-4 record in 2003. The Irish claimed their second BIG EAST Championship, climbed to as high as third in the national polls and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history last year.
While a strong group of seniors graduated (including two MLS draftees), the Irish will welcome back a number of experienced players.
All-American goalkeeper Chris Sawyer returns after a stellar junior season in which he posted 12 shutouts and was named the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Sawyer held Notre Dame’s opponents to one or less goals in 21 of 23 matches last season.
All-American candidate Jack Stewart, a third-team all-regional pick, will return as well in the Irish defense. Stewart was a first-team all-BIG EAST selection a year ago and regarded as one of the best midfielder/defenders in the nation.
Add in freshman All-American Greg Dalby, the return from injury of sophomore Dale Rellas and freshman Ryan Miller, plus the addition of seven talented freshmen and the Irish should be ranked among the nation’s elite for the 2004 fall season.
The 2004 schedule begins with an exhibition match against Northwestern at Alumni Field on Monday, Aug. 23. The regular season begins at a tournament hosted by Indiana University, with the Irish taking on Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 3, at 5:00 p.m.
2004 Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Schedule
#Aug. 23 – Northwestern, 7:00 p.m.
#Aug. 28 – at Massachusetts, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 3 – vs. Oregon State (at Indiana), 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 5 – vs. Boston University (at Indiana), 12:00 p.m.
Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament
Sept. 10 – Indiana vs. CS Fullerton, 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 10 – Notre Dame vs. Evansville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 – Indiana vs. Evansville, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 12 – Notre Dame vs. CS Fullerton, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 – at Indiana, 7:00 p.m.
*Sept. 18 – Georgetown, 7:30 p.m.
*Sept. 23 – at West Virginia, 7:00 p.m.
*Sept. 26 – at Villanova, 12:00 p.m.
*Oct. 1 – Boston College, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 – Loyola-Chicago, 3:30 p.m.
*Oct. 7 – Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m.
*Oct. 10 – Syracuse, 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 13 – Michigan, 7:00 p.m.
*Oct. 16 – at St. John’s, 7:30 p.m.
*Oct. 20 – at Seton Hall, 3:00 p.m.
*Oct. 23 – at Rutgers, 7:00 p.m.
*Oct. 30 – Connecticut, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 – Michigan State, 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 6 – BIG EAST Championship Quarterfinals (campus sites)
Nov. 12 & 14 – BIG EAST Championship (Piscataway, N.J.)
Nov. 19 – 21 – NCAA First Round
Nov. 24 – NCAA Second Round
Nov. 27 – 28 – NCAA Third Round
Dec. 4 – NCAA Quarterfinals
Dec. 10 & 12 – NCAA Final Four
* – BIG EAST Conference match # – exhibition match
home matches in bold