| October 10, 2012
BIG EAST MEN'S NOTEBOOK
Irish make some history
NOTRE DAME MAKING HISTORY--The seven-goal output in Irish’s 7-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Oct. 3 was the largest for the Irish since a 7-1 win over Western Michigan on Oct. 14, 1997. The seven goals were the most scored by the Irish against a Big East opponent. Notre Dame has reached the 10-win mark in 11 of head coach Bobby Clark’s 12 seasons with the Irish. The Fighting Irish have already surpassed their win total (9) from last season. Notre Dame has 10 wins in its first 12 matches of a season for the first time since 1988. The Fighting Irish are 3-1 against top-10 competition this season. The wins have come against No. 3 Georgetown (3-0), No. 4 Akron (3-1) and No. 10 Indiana (1-0). The Irish have not been shutout this season. It is the first time since the 1987 campaign that Notre Dame has not been blanked in the first 12 matches of a season.
MARQUETTE REMAINS UNDEFEATED---Marquette (11-0-0, 3-0-0 Big East) extended the nation’s longest win streak Saturday with a 3-2 win over No. 2/2 Connecticut in a divisional clash at Valley Fields between two previously unbeaten teams. Head coach Louis Bennett has now led the Golden Eagles to a 19-3-1 record in their last 23 matches.
HOYAS FACING TOUGH COMPETITION---Georgetown dropped two games to a pair of top-ten opponents this week, a 3-0 loss to No. 10/11 Notre Dame and a 2-1 loss to No. 2/2 Connecticut. GU’s No. 3 NSCAA ranking is the highest in program history. The Hoyas will close out nonconference play at home against Lehigh on Oct. 9.
RED STORM SHUTTING IT DOWN---With a 1-0-1 week at home, St. John’s improved to 5-0-2 in seven games at Belson Stadium this season. Goalkeeper Rafael Diaz posted two shutouts during the week and now has seven on the year, including three-straight. A three-goal output against Cincinnati marked the fourth three-goal game of the season for St. John’s, all of which have come at home. The Red Storm are 8-0-0 when scoring first.
SYRACUSE HAS RECORD-BREAKING CROWDS---Syracuse’s overtime win against Rutgers on Oct. 3 snapped SU’s fivematch winless streak in overtime games. It was the Orange’s first home win against Rutgers since 2004. Against Louisville, the crowd of 1,652 fans beats the previous record of 1,581, set in this season’s home opener versus Albany.
Offensive Player of the Week
Ryan Finley, Notre Dame, Sr., F
Finley had a pair of two-goal performances in a 2-0 week for the Fighting Irish to earn his second Big East Offensive Player of the week honor of the season. He scored twice in Notre Dame’s 7-1 win against Pittsburgh and followed that up with two goals against No. 3/9 Georgetown.
Goalkeeper of the Week
John Fogarty, Villanova, R-Sr., GK
Fogarty posted two shutouts in a 1-0-1 week for the Wildcats. He made five saves in a 0-0 double-overtime draw at No. 12/16 St. John’s. Fogarty followed up that performance with three saves in 1-0 victory at DePaul on Oct. 6.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jack Bennett, St. John’s, Sr., D
Bennett anchored a defense that had two shutouts last week as the Red Storm battled to a scoreless draw with Villanova before defeating Cincinnati 3-0. Bennett also converted a penalty kick, the eventual gamewinner, in the win against the Bearcats.
Rookie of the Week
Jordan Vale, Syracuse, Fr., M
Vale scored a goal in each of SU’s games this week to bring his season total to six. He scored in a 2-1 win against Rutgers before scoring the Orange’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Louisville. He is tied for fourth in the Big East in goals scored.
Big East Honor Roll
Andrew Farrell, Louisville, Jr., D
Farrell helped lead the Cardinals to a 2-0 week with wins against Syracuse and DePaul. Farrell anchored a defense that allowed the Blue Demons one shot and held Syracuse without a shot on goal in the second half in a 2-1 win.
Andy Huftalin, Marquette, Sr., F
Huftalin scored twice, including the game-winning goal, to help lead Marquette to a 3-2 win against No. 2/2 Connecticut and to help the Golden Eagles remain undefeated at 11-0-0.
Patrick Wall, Notre Dame, Jr., GK
Wall made seven saves in a 2-0 week for the Irish, posting one shutout and allowing only one goal. The shutout came against No. 3/9 Georgetown, which was averaging 1.67 goals per game this season.
Rafael Diaz, St. John’s, R-Jr., GK
Diaz collected two shutouts in a 1-0-1 week for the Red Storm, making seven saves in 200 minutes between the posts.
George Velasquez, Seton Hall, Jr., F
Velasquez led Seton Hall to a pair of Big East wins with three goals and two assists for eight points.
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