The Week in Notre Dame Athletics: Soccer, Volleyball, Hockey Come Up Big

Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's match-ups.

_____

Soccer: Mid-week last week, the no. 7 men's soccer team (13-3-1, 5-2-1) took the pitch against no. 3 Marquette and came out with a convincing 3-1 win. After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, the Irish charged ahead with 3 goals in the second half of the game, including 2 from Ryan Finley in just over 2 minutes of play. The win gave Notre Dame a perfect regular-season home record of 8-0. Marquette and Notre Dame met again on Saturday for their second of two matches, but the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Once again, Ryan Finley came up with a big goal for the Irish, this, the equalizer in the 88^th minute of play. The Irish face Syracuse this weekend.

The Irish on the pitch against Marquette Wednesday.

The no. RV/24 women's team (13-4-2, 9-1-1 Big East) faced Syracuse in the Big East Quarterfinals over the weekend and came away with the 1-0 victory on a late goal. With that, the Irish head to the Big East Conference Championship semifinals in Storrs, CT, where they face no. 16/12 Marquette on Friday. Should the Irish advance, they will play in the title match Sunday at noon ET (televised).

_____

Volleyball: The Irish (17-6, 10-1 Big East) continued their impressive run in conference play, marked by an 8-game win streak, by taking down Big East foe Pitt on Friday, 3-1, in front of a packed house. A number of Irish players turned in dominant performances, especially in sets 2-4. They then claimed victory over USF in straight sets on Sunday. After going undefeated in October, the Irish have secured their spot in the Big East Tournament in November and, this weekend, challenge Seton Hall and Rutgers.

_____

Hockey: The no. 10/9 Irish (5-1-0, 2-0-0-0) impressively swept Northern Michigan in two weekend matches. In the first game, Notre Dame won 5-2 after falling behind 1-2 in the opening period. Irish goals came from five different players; goaltender Steven Summerhays had 22 saves on the night. In the second game, the Irish won 3-2 with 26 stops from goaltender Mike Johnson (making his first start this season) and two goals from freshman Steven Fogarty.

_____

Golf: The no. 24 women's team concluded fall play at the Landfall Tradition tournament (cut from 54 to 18 holes due to rain), where they took fifth place. The team came in at 8-over par (296) and standout Lindsey Weaver, ND's top-performer, recorded a two-under par 70, tying for third place in the tournament. The Irish resume play in February.

_____

Swimming and Diving: The men's team claimed victory over Oakland University in a dual meet last Friday, with wins in 11 of 16 team events. Saturday, the Irish conquered Michigan State in another dual meet, 178-120.

The women's team lost to Auburn last Friday in a swimming and diving dual meet that saw each team win eight events, but the Tigers pull away with points from their depth of talent.

Both Irish teams face Purdue at home in their next match this Friday.

_____

Cross Country: Both teams took their talents to the Bronx for the Big East Championships last week. The men took home a strong third-place finish, and the women, fifth. Three athletes from the men's team and two from the women's team claimed all-Big East honors in the competition with impressive individual finishes. In just a week and a half, the Irish head to Madison, Wisconsin, to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals for a shot to join the NCAA Championship field.

_____

Fencing: The Irish swept the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in an exhibition match on Saturday. Competing in men's and women's relays in the new Castellan Family Fencing Center, the men defeated their opponents 60-37 and the women, 60-51. Notre Dame next competes at the Penn State Open this weekend.

_____

Basketball: The no. 22/23 men's team held their first exhibition match Monday night at home, and they let Quincy University have it. The Irish dropped 111 on the visitors, who put up 52 and gave up 20 turnovers. Friday, ND faces Cardinal Stritch University for their final exhibition match.

_____

We'll bring you updates again next week on the Notre Dame Olympic sports and help you to root for the Irish beyond those long-awaited and well-loved fall Saturdays. Go Irish. Beat Pittsburgh - and everybody else.