Notre Dame thorn in Blue's side four years running

By Jeff Phillips

Daily Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND - The Michigan women's soccer team's season came to an emotional end on Saturday with a loss to Notre Dame (21-0-1).

Perhaps hit hardest by the loss were seniors Kacy Beitel, Carissa Stewart, Marie Spaccarotella and Stephanie McArdle.

Down 3-1 with three minutes left in the game, they didn't want to let go. Beitel sent a pass to Spaccarotella down the sideline, setting up the Wolverines final scoring chance - an Abby Crumpton shot that sailed high.

As the final seconds clicked down, the seniors were still tackling and challenging for the ball, never giving up.

The seniors left the field red-eyed, as most of the team did.

The class leaves behind a strong legacy of four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and numerous Michigan records.

But the seniors also leave behind a record that they aren't too proud of - a winless record against Notre Dame.

"We've played Notre Dame six times - it would've been nice to win one of them in four years," Stewart said.

Sunday's game was Michigan closest contest with Notre Dame over the span.

Michigan played well, but unfortunately for the Wolverines, this may be the best Notre Dame team ever - which speaks volumes for a perennial Final Four team. Perhaps the most telling fact from Notre Dame's season is they defeated No. 2 Washington 5-0 on October 24.

"This is a different team playing Notre Dame today than four years ago or even last year," Beitel, a team captain, said. "We played with confidence."

The Fighting Irish haven't lost a match all year and 14 of Notre Dame's 21 wins have been shut-outs. Notre Dame has allowed just six goals all season - two of which were scored by. Besides Beitel's goal Sunday, Spaccarotella beat the Notre Dame goalkeeper in the previous matchup.

The road to the championship is paved for the Fighting Irish and barring an upset, they will indeed win the title, their first since 1995. But that doesn't make it any easier to swallow for the Wolverines.

"We came out and played with a lot of character," Beitel said through tears. Notre Dame "is a great team."

JEFF HURVITZ/Daily

Michigan's seniors, including Kacy Beitel (right) never beat Notre Dame in six tries.