By Mark Allen
Irish Blue And Gold
October 2, 2006
It’s the fall and many fans across the nation have Notre Dame football fever. Many are starting to realize that there is more than one strain of this bug. In Notre Dame Stadium, at the time of this writing, the football team is 4-1 and is nationally ranked. Behind the Joyce
Center, at Alumni Field, is another very successful football program. Randy Waldrum’s Notre Dame women’s soccer program is ranked. Not only are they ranked, but are ranked number one.
Waldrum has been darn near Rockne-esque in his success at Notre Dame. After the Irish defeated
Pittsburgh, 5-0, on Sunday, October 1, his overall record moved to 152-23-5 at Notre Dame. He has his Irish women ranked number one in the polls.
Consider some of these impressive tidbits after the win over
Pittsburgh. The Irish moved to 11-0 on the season. The win moved Notre Dame’s unbeaten streak at Alumni Field versus Big East opponents to 69 straight. 2,681 fans attended the Pittsburgh game. That figure represents the largest crowd for a Sunday game in Alumni Field history. In 2006, the Irish women have outscored their opponents, 38-3 overall and 25-1 in their last seven games. The win over Pittsburgh means that the Irish have gone 34 straight games without a loss at Alumni Field (33-0-1). That is the fourth longest streak in NCAA history.
Coach Waldrum would be the first to admit that good players are the key to this success. Having good players, though means, not only good recruiting, but also good coaching. His excellent staff includes Dawn Greathouse, his son Ben Waldrum and volunteer assistant coach Lindsey Jones.
Waldrum’s outstanding players have accumulated many accolades already this season. The list is extensive. Here are a few samples:
- Sophomore Carrie Dew was named Big East defensive player of the week. In addition, she also made the TopDrawerSoccer.com and Soccer America national team of the week.
- Michelle Weissenhofer (freshman forward), was twice named Big East rookie of the week. She also made the TopDrawerSoccer.com team of the week.
- Ashley Jones (junior right back), was named Big East player of the week. She also made the Soccer America team of the week.
- Jill Krivacek (senior midfielder), was named Big East defensive player of the week.
- Lauren Karas (junior goalkeeper), garnered Big East honors.
- Chrisitie Shaner (senior left back), garnered Big East honors.
- Amanda Cinalli (junior forward), was named Big East offensive player of the week. She was also named Soccer
America’s player of the week.
Waldrum has built the Irish women’s soccer program into what can be called a dynasty. In every season, since his first in 1999, the Irish have made the NCAA Tournament. He has been named coach of the year on four occasions (1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004). What makes that all the more impressive is that, no coach in the Big East has been named more than once, coach of the year. Waldrum led the Irish to a runner up finish in the NCAA Tournament, in 1999.
Oh yeah, before I forget, under Waldrum, Notre Dame won the 2004 National Championship. Can the Irish win another in 2006?
Stay tuned!
