Oct. 19, 2008

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Providence College men's soccer team saw its three-match win streak come to an end as ninth-ranked Notre Dame defeated the Friars, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in a BIG EAST Conference match in South Bend, Ind. With the loss, the Friars fall to 6-5-3 overall and 3-5-1 in the BIG EAST. The Fighting Irish maintained their top spot in the BIG EAST Blue Division as they improved to 9-4-1 overall and 5-1-1 in league play.

The Fighting Irish took a 1-0 halftime lead as Bright Dike scored in the 27th minute. Providence had a chance to tie the game at 1-1 with 30 seconds left in the half when freshman Daniel Fabian (Southbury, Conn.) unleashed a shot from the top of the box that curled for the low, left corner but Notre Dame keeper Andrew Quinn punched the shot out as he dove to his left. UND increased its lead in the 51st minute when Michael Thomas' header found the back of the net as Matt Besler assisted on the goal.

The Friars cut the lead in half (2-1) in the 59th minute as sophomore Matt Marcin (Wilmington, Del.) tied the team lead with his third goal of the season. The Friars gained possession in the midfield and got the ball forward to senior Ryan Maduro (Bristol, R.I.) who took a few dribbles and left the ball off 22-yards out from the net. Marcin ran onto the pass and curled a brilliant strike into the top right corner of the net. PC had a good chance to tie the game with about 15 minutes remaining. Junior Timothy Ritter (Weston, Mass.) got a breakaway chance when the Irish misplayed the ball due to his pressure, but Quinn came up with the save.

"Ritter had a breakaway chance that would have changed the game and made it 2-2, but credit their keeper with getting off of his line and making a good save with his leg," Providence Head Coach Chaka Daley said.

Notre Dame put the game away in the 86th minute when Jeb Brovsky scored off an assist from Dave Donohue.

The Friars are back in action on Saturday, October 25 with road match at Marquette.