ND SPORTS
BY DOUGLAS FARMER
M
en's soccer coach Bobby Clark
doesn't think there should be a tar-
get on Notre Dame's back, even if the
Irish have now won two consecutive
ACC regular-season titles and are the
defending ACC and NCAA Tourna-
ment champions. Last year's team was
last year 's team. Nonetheless, oppo-
nents notice those titles.
"Last season was put to bed a long
time ago," Clark said. "There's been a
target on our back all year. I don't know
why there should be, because it's a dif-
ferent team. This team is creating its
own identity."
Whether there should be a target or
not is moot. There is. The No. 4 Fight-
ing Irish (10-4-3 overall, 6-1-1 ACC)
have noticed it, at least partly because
its opponents are not shy about it. After
their four losses this season — 1-0 to
Kentucky Sept. 8, 1-0 to Boston College
Oct. 3, 3-2 at Michigan Oct. 7 and 1-0
at Indiana Oct. 22 — the Irish suffered
Men's Soccer Meets Its First Goal
Junior midfielder Connor Klekota and the Irish captured their second straight ACC regular-season title
with a 6-1-1 league record, and aim to defend their ACC and NCAA Tournament championships.
PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS
