Soccer eliminated from NCAAs by Irish

SOUTH BEND - Michigan soccer coach Debbie Belkin was hoping her team could put its experience to use as it entered second-round NCAA tournament competition yesterday.

Belkin wanted to capitalize on the experience it gained by winning its first NCAA tournament contest earlier in the week, returning to the NCAA tournament for the second time in as many years and on the team's slim 1-0 loss several weeks ago to yesterday's opponent, No. 4 Notre Dame.

Yet as the Irish wrapped up a 3-0 win over No. 18 Michigan at Alumni Field, it became clear that it was the tournament-savvy Notre Dame squad that finally asserted its experience.

"We were not afraid of Notre Dame one bit," Belkin said. "We knew we were playing a final four caliber team, and they would demonstrate their experience, but we were confident. We wouldn't back down."

Despite their confidence, the Wolverines fell behind when Monica Gerado slipped a shot past Michigan netminder Carrisa Stewart off a corner kick to put Notre Dame ahead at 21:11 in the first half.

The Irish managed another score just prior to halftime as senior Shannon Boxx gave the Irish a 2-0 lead on a shot that sailed over Stewart's head, finding the center of the net with just five minutes remaining.

"After those first two scores we really tried to tighten things up," Belkin said. "Leading 2-0 is always real dangerous because some teams tend to get complacent, but to Notre Dame's credit they hung on and didn't let up."

Protecting its 2-0 lead, the Irish defense flexed its muscle in the second half, holding Michigan to without a shot in the game's final 55 minutes.

Instead, the Big East champions managed another score as Gerardo found the back of the net for her 71st career goal. Coming off a feed from Boxx, Gerardo scored from the left side at the 77:04 mark, notching Notre Dame's third and final goal in what would prove to be Notre Dame's 36th straight win over a Big Ten opponent.

"We knew in the second half we would have to play more as a unit," senior Vanessa Lewis said. "We knew that if we played more focused and more together, we would be OK. Unfortunately things didn't work for us."

Lewis anchored a defensive effort that held one of the most potent offensive teams in the country to only a single score when Michigan hosted Notre Dame Oct. 23.

Lewis said that Irish team differed very little from the one that bested Michigan yesterday.

"They hadn't changed from when we played them earlier, and we were confident that we knew what we needed to do to win," Lewis said. "The difference is this time their shots just connected.."

Despite the disheartening realization that the season had ended, Belkin said she was optimistic about the strides her program made this season.

"I think that things will continue to improve for us," Belkin said. "Each year as we go a little further, we see improvement, and recruits notice those types of things. It's no secret that the best players want to play at the best schools, and I think we are working towards that."

And as Lewis walked off the field for the final time yesterday, she said she, too, was proud of the example she and her senior teammates set.

"The reality of being down hasn't yet hit me," Lewis said. "But I can say that we are proud of the legacy we leave behind. We brought leadership, communication, and dedication and I am happy with how we are leaving things."

11-16-98