November 6, 2009
IRISH MARCH ON
1-0 win over St. John’s leads to final

STORRS, Conn. – Sophomore Jessica Schuveiller scored in the 99th minute to give Notre Dame a 2-1 win over St. John’s 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2009 Big East Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday night.

With the win the Irish advance to the title game of the Big East Championship for the sixth straight time. The will face Marquette who will be making its first ever appearance in the Big East title match, .at Noon on Sunday, Nov. 8. It marked Schuveiller’s second goal of the year and third of her Irish career. All three goals have proved to be game winners.

Notre Dame got on the board in the eighth minute when junior Lauren Fowlkes scored her ninth goal of the season. Fowlkes, who was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday night, took a pass off a direct kick from Rose Augustin to give the Irish a 1-0 lead. Notre Dame held the advantage into halftime.

The Red Storm got on the board in the 69th minute as senior Nicole Doran lifted a corner kick right in the middle of the box where senior teammate Courtney Lane headed it home. It was the first of the season for Doran and just the second of her career.

St. John’s fought off 26 Notre Dame shots in the game and only allowed two goals to a highly-potent offense that has outscored its opponents 40-14 prior to this game. St. John’s goal was the first allowed by Notre Dame in a Big East semifinal game since 2003, and the goal was the first scored by the Red Storm against the Irish in 12 contests.

Junior goalkeeper Nikki Weiss earned the win in the Irish net, her eighth win of the year. Notre Dame ending with a 26-5 advantage in shots and a 9-1 advantage in shots on net a but were stymied in part due to the play of Red Storm goalkeeper Kristin Russell, who finished with seven saves.

During the 2009 season, Notre Dame is 9-0 when Fowlkes scores a goal. In addition, the team is 11-0 when Fowlkes has a point.

St. John’s advanced to the Big East Semifinals for only the second time in program history, recorded three Top 25 victories, earned its first-ever ranking in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll and tied program records with six Big East wins and eight home victories. The Red Storm will await word on their potential first-ever NCAA Championship berth on Nov. 9.