Notre Dame Overpowers Michigan Soccer, 4-1

Tuesday, October 5

South Bend, Ind.

4:00 PM

Michigan

Notre Dame

10/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame's high-powered offensive attack created numerous scoring opportunities as the sixth-ranked Irish defeated the No. 16 Michigan women's soccer team 4-1 Tuesday (Oct. 5) in front of 339 fans at Alumni Field. The Irish (9-2-0), who outshot the Wolverines (8-3-1) by a 16-11 margin, grabbed control of a tie game in the waning minutes of the first half and opening moments of the second period, with two tallies in a 4:30 span.

Marie Spaccarotella (Livonia, Mich./Churchill HS) tied the game in the 35th minute with her fourth goal of the season. Spaccarotella used a one-on-one head fake to create room at the corner of the box on the left wing, then hooked a shot over the Irish keeper into the upper far corner.

Anne Makinen gave Notre Dame the lead back at 42:55. Notre Dame's corner kick sailed over the scrum in front of the net and the Wolverines misplayed a clearing chance to Nancy Mikacenic at the right corner of the box. Mikacenic slid a pass to Makinen, who converted a seven-yard shot under Carissa Stewart's (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat HS) dive for her fifth goal of the season.

Another Michigan defensive lapse resulted in Notre Dame's third goal of the game, at 47:25. A poor clearing chance resulted in a give-and-go inside the box with Makinen finishing Monica Gonzalez's feed for her second goal of the game.

Notre Dame opened the scoring at 27:27 when Jenny Heft converted a loose-ball opportunity into her ninth goal of the season. With the Irish controlling the midfield play, Notre Dame played a ball to the top of the box. Heft won the loose ball and beat the Michigan defenders to the inside and blasted a shot from 18 yards into the lower right corner.

Meotis Erikson closed the scoring at 72:10 when Stewart was unable to hold onto a crossing pass from Lindsey Jones and Erickson tapped the ball into the open net.

The Wolverines return to action at 4 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 8) when they return home to face in-state rival Michigan State.

GAME SUMMARY

Team	1	2	F
Michigan	1	0	1
Notre Dame	2	2	4

Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- ND, Jenny Heft, 27:27 (Unassisted)
1st -- U-M, Marie Spaccarotella, 34:49 (Unassisted)
1st -- ND, Anne Makinen, 42:55 (Nancy Mikacenic)
2nd -- ND, Makinen, 47:25 (Monica Gonzalez)
2nd -- ND, Meotis Erickson, 72:10 (Lindsey Jones)

Shots: U-M 11, ND 16
Corners: U-M 5, ND 8
Goalie Saves: U-M 4 (Carissa Stewart), ND 4 (LaKeysia Beene)
Fouls: U-M 13, ND 10
Cards: U-M, Emily Schmitt, 82:32 (yellow); ND, Makinen, 82:32 (yellow)

NOTES