The Week in Notre Dame Athletics: Hockey & Swimming Begin

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

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No. 1 men's soccer (5-2-2, 2-1-1) split the past week's matches, first edging VCU in double overtime on Tuesday, 1-0 (that's Virginia Commonwealth University for the curious), then falling to Boston College, 1-0, on Friday night. The Irish controlled play for much of their match against VCU (particularly in the 2^nd half), knocking on the door throughout the game without success until Nick Besler's 107^th-minute header. The header came off a Patrick Hodan corner that first ricocheted off the head of freshman Jeffrey Farina, then to Besler near the post. Notre Dame looked strong and led VCU in shots, shots on goal, and corners.

Friday night, Boston College opened and closed scoring against the Irish just 15 minutes into a rainy game. Notre Dame was once again in control throughout the 2^nd half and led in shots, 19-3, but they could not put the ball in the back of the net. The 2 saves required of ND goalie Patrick Wall both came in the 4^th minute, and after their early goal, the Eagles did not take another shot in what proved a heartbreaker for the Irish.

Next up for the Irish is a road trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. ET). Friday, they host Louisville (7:00 p.m. ET, Watch ESPN).

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No. 14/10 women's soccer (7-4-1, 2-2) fell in the final minute to no. 4/5 Virginia, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon. After the Cavaliers opened scoring a little ways into the 2^nd half, the Irish pulled even with 6 minutes to go off a 30-yard unassisted goal by Cari Roccaro. Virginia earned back the lead on a goal with just 21 seconds until the end of regulation. The Cavaliers led clearly in shots, shots on goal, and corners. ND's Kaela Little made 9 saves to the Virginia goalie's 3.

This Thursday, the Irish travel to play Pittsburgh (7:00 p.m. ET) and on Sunday, they host Miami (FL, 12:00 p.m. ET, WatchND).

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Irish hockey played its first exhibition game this past Sunday and fell to Waterloo, 5-4. Notre Dame went up 3-1 in the opening period and saw goals from Vince Hinostroza (2g, 1a), Thomas DiPauli (1g, 1a), and Peter Schneider (PPG), with 2 assists by Robbie Russo. The Irish took 45 shots against the Warriors, who took only 17, but the Irish are breaking in a new goalie for the season in sophomore Chad Katunar. Katunar stopped 3 of 4 shots and played half the game, then was replaced by freshman Cal Peterson, who surrendered 4 against 13 shots.

The Irish begin their season in earnest on Friday night as they host Rensselaer (RPI, 7:35 p.m. ET, NBC Sports and Tournament Central) in the Ice Breaker Tournament. Sunday, they'll play a team to be determined by the progress of the weekend's tournament-either Minnesota or Minnesota Duluth (3:35 p.m. ET, NBC Sports and Tournament Central).

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Volleyball (4-11) earned their first ACC victory this past weekend at home against Syracuse, 3-1 (25-11, 24-26, 25-21, 25-18).

Sunday, no. 25 Duke won out over the Irish, 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23), but Notre Dame is slowly carving out stronger performances as the season progresses.

The Irish travel to Pittsburgh this Friday (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3), then to Louisville on Sunday (2:00 p.m. ET).

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This past week, men's tennis made an impressive run at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa. Notre Dame's 27^th-ranked doubles partners Alex Lawson and Billy Pecor advanced to the tournament quarterfinals, where they lost to the nation's no. 3 team out of Oklahoma State. They beat the no. 12 team in the round of 16. Singles player Quentin Monaghan, ranked 88^th nationally, played into the round of 32. The 5 Irish competitors at the tournament went 8-4.

The men's team next competes in the Midwest Regional Championships in Ann Arbor beginning on October 16^th.

Members of the women's tennis team competed at the All-American Invitational in Pacific Palisades, CA, over the past week. Full results have not yet been posted, but you can find partial results at UND.com right here.

Next up for the Irish is the Midwest Regional in Champaign, IL, beginning on October 16^th.

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Notre Dame cross country hosted the Notre Dame Invitational in cold and stormy weather this past weekend. The women's squad claimed a very strong 3^rd-place finish in a 20-team field and Molly Seidel earned 5^th overall in a field of 165. ND's Danielle Aragon came in 11^th. The men's squad earned 14^th place in a 24-team field. Of the teams that competed, 12 were nationally ranked in the top 50.

The Irish are idle until the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational in Madison on October 17^th.

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Irish men's golf finished 7^th overall at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic at the Warren Golf Course. Cory Sciupider came in 2^nd in the tournament (211, -2), just 2 strokes behind the winner in a 50-man field.

Up next for the men's squad is the Rod Myers Invitational in Durham, N.C., this weekend.

The women's golf team earned an 8^th-place finish at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman this past weekend in a field of 17. Talia Campbell, who had a great tournament performance, tied for 10^th place overall (186, -2) in a field of 91.

The women's squad next competes in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Knoxville the weekend of October 17^th.

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Friday night, women's swimming and diving earned a season-opening victory over Michigan State, 182-118. Notre Dame claimed 1^st-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 fly, 50 free, 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 1-M dive, and 3-M dive. To their 11 wins, the Irish added another 11 runner-up finishes.

This weekend, the Irish-both women's and men's teams-host the Dennis Stark Relays.

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Women's lacrosse battle Marquette on Saturday morning at Notre Dame's Arlotta Stadium (10:00 a.m.).

Irish rowing was idle this past week and next competes in the Head of the Charles tournament in Cambridge, MA, on 19 October.

Members of the Irish fencing team compete in the North American Cup in Portland this weekend.

Softball plays a fall-ball exhibition game against Loyola on Sunday at Notre Dame (12:00 p.m. ET), followed by an afternoon game vs. Butler (4:30 p.m. ET).

We'll bring you updates next week on Notre Dame's Olympic sports. For now, go Irish. Beat UNC and everybody else.