Dec. 14, 2004
Notre Dame senior goalkeeper Chris Sawyer was named a first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) over the weekend, becoming the first Irish men's soccer player to earn such a distinction from the respected national body.
Sawyer had an outstanding final campaign for the Irish in 2004, posting the nation's best goals-against average (0.457) and shutting out 11 of Notre Dame's 19 opponents. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native allowed only two opponents to net more than one goal in a game this season (#1 Indiana, Ohio State) and helped lead the team to a 13-3-3 record and the program's first BIG EAST regular-season title.
Sawyer also earned the 2004 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Award while taking a spot on the all-conference first team. He also was a first-team all-region selection and finished with 31 career shutouts - placing him second on the all-time list at Notre Dame.
He was joined on the first-team all-Great Lakes Region squad by classmates and defenders Jack Stewart and Kevin Goldthwaite. Stewart and Goldthwaite's regional awards mark a move up, as the two players earned all-region third-team accolades in 2003. Both players played a key role in Notre Dame's stellar defense which allowed just nine goals and just eight shots a game for Irish opponents in '04. Stewart (two goals in '04) and Goldthwaite (three assists) were named semifinalists for the 2004 MAC Hermann Award, but did not receive All-America consideration.
Here is a complete list of Notre Dame's awardwinners during the 2004 season:
Chris Sawyer, Sr., GK
Hermann Trophy Watch List ... NSCAA/adidas first-team All-American ... NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region ... BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year ... first-team all-BIG EAST ... adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team ... College Soccer News.com preseason All-American ... BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (10-04-04) and (10-25-04)) ... Soccer America Team of the Week (10-25-04) ... College Soccer News.com Team of the Week (10-25-04).
Kevin Goldthwaite, Sr., D
Hermann Trophy Semifinalist ... NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region ... Soccer America Preseason All-American ... BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (10-04-04) ... Soccer America Team of the Week (10-06-04).
Joe Lapira, Fr., F
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (10-25-04)
Greg Dalby, So., MF
Second-team all-BIG EAST ... Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament all-tournament selection.
Ian Etherington, So., MF
Third-team all-BIG EAST.
Justin McGeeney, So., D
Third-team all-BIG EAST selection ... BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Week (09-29-04) ... adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team selection.
Tony Megna, Jr., F
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (10-11-04).
John Mousinho, Fr., MF/F
Co-BIG EAST Rookie of the Week (11-01-04).
Jack Stewart, Sr., D
Hermann Trophy Semifinalist ... BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year ... NSCAA Great Lakes first-team all-region ... first-team all-BIG EAST ... Soccer America Team of the Week (09-09-04) ... adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team selection ... Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament all-tournament team selection ... BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (09-06-04).
Christopher High, Sr., D
CoSIDA Academic All-District selection
Nate Norman, So., MF
Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament all-tournament selection.
2004 Team Accomplishments - Here are some of Notre Dame's most notable accomplishments during the '04 campaign -
• Notre Dame won its first-ever BIG EAST Conference regular-season title with an 8-1-1 league record. It was the first time the Irish had won eight games in the BIG EAST regular season.
• Notre Dame led the nation in goals-against average (0.45), allowing just nine scores. The team also finished second in the nation in shutout percentage (0.63).
• The Irish won 12 games for the fourth consecutive year, putting up 53 victories in four seasons - the best four-season total since the '86-'89 campaigns.
• Notre Dame posted an 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2) during the season and defeated four ranked teams during that run (1-0 vs. #9 Boston College, 3-0 vs. #19 Michigan, 1-0 vs. #21 Villanova and 1-0 vs. #17 Seton Hall).
• Irish head coach Bobby Clark won his 200th collegiate victory and 50th game at Notre Dame in 2004.
