Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/393046
ND SPORTS so energetic. Our coaching staff has talked about it a number of times. "That was one of our more fun years as coaches just because there was en- thusiasm and energy from the younger guys." That may have been one of Jackson's more enjoyable years, but a trip to the Frozen Four certainly colors that sea- son with rose-colored glasses. If Notre Dame is to duplicate that performance this season, it will need its few seniors to mold the freshmen. Jackson pointed out the players spent much of summer in the weight room and the classroom together. That time has allowed the upperclassmen to exert some influence over the fresh- men already, before the Irish opened with an exhibition game against Wa- terloo on Oct. 5. "For those freshmen, it's going to be first and foremost all about confi- dence," senior assistant captain Peter Schneider said. "We as the older guys just have to make sure they stay in it and keep playing the way they know, and everything will be alright." Jackson mentioned every member of the freshmen class — defensemen Nathan Billitier, Tony Bretzman, Jor- dan Gross and Luke Ripley, centers Dawson Cook and Connor Hurley, wings Anders Bjork, Bo Brauer and Irish Roundup MEN'S SOCCER (5-1-2, 2-0-1 ACC) Notre Dame returned to the top spot in the national rankings with a 2‑0 victory over No. 8 North Caro‑ lina Sept. 26. The Irish then held onto the slot thanks to a Nick Besler golden goal in double overtime for a 1‑0 triumph against VCU in a break from conference play Sept. 30. The two wins stretched a Notre Dame unbeaten streak to four games, dating back to a Sept. 8 loss to Kentucky. Freshman forward Jeffrey Farina and fifth‑year senior forward Leon Brown notched the goals against the Tar Heels. WOMEN'S SOCCER (7-3-1, 2-1 ACC) Notre Dame recovered from an ACC‑opening, double‑overtime loss to No. 8 North Carolina by sweep‑ ing a two‑game road trip against No. 2 Virginia Tech (2‑0) Sept. 25 and Wake Forest (1‑0) Sept. 28. Sophomore goaltender Kaela Little did not allow a goal on the road swing, while junior forward Anna Gilbertson and sophomore forward Kaleigh Olmsted notched tallies against the Hokies, and senior mid‑ fielder Karin Simonian scored the lone goal versus the Deacons. VOLLEYBALL (3-10, 0-2 ACC) Notre Dame failed to capture a single set during a two‑match stretch in Florida, losing 3‑0 to both Miami Sept. 26 and No. 6 Florida State Sept. 28 to open the conference season. The Hurricanes swept the Irish with ease, no set finishing closer than eight points, but Notre Dame did give the Seminoles about all they could handle. The first set went all the way to 34‑31, while the next two were settled by a combined nine points. — Douglas Farmer