BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA: After a week of highs (tie against nationally-ranked Tulsa) and lows (losses to Washington and SMU), the Seattle University men's soccer team left Thursday for Notre Dame, Ind., and the Mike Berticelli Tournament. Friday night, SeattleU will face the host Fighting Irish, with a matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers set for Sunday. SeattleU will also have a chance to see one of its conference rivals, as New Mexico is the fourth team involved in the tournament this weekend.
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME: The Fighting Irish have started the season 1-1-1, defeating Michigan at home (5-0), playing to a 1-1 tie against Wake Forest, and losing to St. John's, 2-0. Notre Dame is currently ranked #10 in the NSCAA national top 25 poll. Bright Dike leads the way with three goals so far this season, with Michael Thomas, Jeb Brovsky, and Steven Perry also tallying goals for Notre Dame. Thomas has also earned an assist this season, along with Dillon Powers, Matt Armstrong, and Tamba Samba. Andrew Quinn has started two matches, earning a 1-0-1 record with a 0.47 goals against average and an .889 save percentage.
SCOUTING INDIANA: The Hoosiers enter the weekend with a 0-1-1 record, playing to a scoreless tie against St. John's before losing to Wake Forest, 2-1. Eric Alexander scored the lone goal last weekend with an assist from Lee Hagedorn. Luis Soffner has been in net for both Indiana matches, compiling a 0.90 goals against average and a .750 save percentage. Indiana is now #12 in the NSCAA national rankings. The Hoosiers are coming off a 14-7-3 season that included an appearance in the Big Ten tournament final as well as the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
FIVE YEARS AGO:
2004 was a good year for at least two of the teams competing in this weekend's tournament at Notre Dame. Indiana was upset by Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament, but used that as motivation, shutting out Michigan (1-0), Boston College (1-0), and Tulsa (4-0) to reach the College Cup national semifinals. A double-overtime win over Maryland, 3-2, and a win over UC Santa Barbara on penalty kicks gave the Hoosiers their seventh national title. Meanwhile, in Division II, Seattle University completed an undefeated 22-0-1 season with a dramatic last-second victory over Incarnate Word in the Elite Eight, an overtime win over Dowling in the national semifinals, and a 2-1 win over SIU Edwardsville in the national title game. It was Seattle University's first NCAA title at any level in any sport.