NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The Notre Dame women's soccer team had been waiting for forward Amy Warner (Albuquerque, N.M.) to break into the goalscoring column and the speedy freshman responded in fine fashion on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field, registering a hat trick to spark a 5-1 win over Providence in the BIG EAST Conference opener for both teams.

Notre Dame (3-0-0)-ranked as high as second in the national polls-again held a large shot margin, at 32-2, while making some strides in solidifying its starting lineup prior to next week's challenging Key Bank Classic (Sept. 8 and 10, at Alumni Field). Providence saw its record drop to 2-2-0.

Warner used her speed in the penalty box area to create the first two Irish scores and added her third goal in the late-going, on a pretty half-volley after a cross from All-America midfielder Anne Makinen (Helsinki, Finland).

Irish freshman forward Amanda Guertin (Grapevine, Texas) notched her second goal of the season, early in the second half, while sophomore midfielder Ashley Dryer (Salt Lake City, Utah) capped the scoring with the first goal of her Irish career.

Notre Dame has compiled an eye-popping 116-6 shot advantage through the first three games of the season, plus a 38-4 edge in corner kicks.

Warner opened the scoring nine minutes into the game, after splitting the defense up the middle and beating Caroline Haines with a quick shot. Providence midfielder Katie Auger then surprised Irish junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Wagner with a 30-yard shot from the left flank, with Wagner misjudging the ball as it slipped below the crossbar and into the net (17:34).

Warner sent the Irish back into the lead five minutes later, with Makinen setting the play in motion after cutting sharply to her left and working the ball to junior midfielder Mia Sarkesian at the top of the box. Sarkesian sent the ball on to Warner, who dribbled down the left side of the box and slashed to her right to lose a PC defender before smacking another low shot into the net (22:45).

Freshman midfielder Randi Scheller set up the third Irish goal with a pass from the center of the field, with Guertin running onto the ball in the left side of the box and drilling a quick shot inside the left post (47:35). Makinen's long cross from the right flank then helped complete the hat trick for Warner, who broke free down the left side and one--touched a half-volley over Haines' head.

Erikson's rightside corner kick led to the final goal, with Dryer emerging from a crowded goalmouth and nudging the ball inside the near right post (78:25).

PROVIDENCE 1 0 - 1
NOTRE DAME 2 3 - 5

ND 1. Amy Warner 1 (-)
PC 1. Katie Auger 1 (-) 17:34
ND 2. Warner 2 (Mia Sarkesian, Anne Makinen) 22:45
ND 3. Amada Guertin 2 (Randi Scheller) 47:35
ND 4. Warner 3 (Makinen) 75:16
ND 5. Ashley Dryer 1 (Meotis Erikson) 78:25.

SHOTS: PC 2, ND 32.
CORNER KICKS: PC 2, ND 9
SAVES:
PC 14 (Caroline Haines)
ND 0 (Elizabeth Wagner, Sani Post)
FOULS: PC 4, ND 11 OFFISDE: PC 0., ND 5

COMMENTS FROM NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH RANDY WALDRUM

"In the first half, our rhythm was pretty good and it was good to see us get a few goals at the end."

"We are getting closer to that right mix of players. Over the last couple of games, we really have liked Vanessa (Pruzinsky) centrally in the back and the key is if Lindsey Jones and Monica Gonzales can continue to have games like they did in the first half today, then it makes that decision to use Vanesaa in the middle that much easier. All three kind of run off each other."

" When we recruited Amy Warner, she was kind of a sleeper out there that people didn't know too much about because she was a track athlete, too. She's doing the things that we hoped she would do for us and she's only going to get better as she gets experience at this level. É We first saw Amy at a tournament in Miami over Christmas break. She was not involved with Olympic Development Program and national team activities because she does more than one sport. É She had a great visit to Notre Dame and has always kind of wanted to come to Notre Dame. So it's just been a great fit."

"I thought Kerri Bakker did great for us in the second half, especially when we started taking some of the veterans out of the back. She did a great job holding things together for us defensively. Jones, Pruzinsky and Gonzales were much better as a group today than they were in the first two games."

"We haven't had problems creating opportunities, even through all three teams have kind of packed it in. Tactically, we understand and are creating opportunities but we still have to work on finishing. We are getting some great looks. We just have to do a better job of being composed when we get into that attacking third of the field. We've got to be more efficient, because I'd be very surprised if we walk away with real high shot totals this weekend."

"I think we are headed in the right direction. Each game we have gotten a little bit better at taking care of the ball and keeping it. Any time you play a top-20 team, the effort is going to have to elevate. The one thing that I have been pleased with overall is that our intensity level in the first three games-even against this level of teams-has been pretty good. If we can elevate that a notch, then I think we will be competitive for the weekend."

"The goal is one area where we have had a little bit of a concern. Liz Wagner started out for us doing a great job and she had some good games in Brazil and she had some games where she was a little shaky. We wanted to get Sani Post a look before next weekend. The one disappointing thing is to give up goal on the first shot from 30-40 yards out. That's an area that is Liz's to keep and I think Sani is going to make a big challenge and I think Lauren Kent is going to as well. We're probably still a little unsettled for the weekend knowing which of those three will go in.

"We are going to get Ali (Lovelace) back into training this week and try to get her rolling for the weekend. She was the one player that we really missed against Tulsa because she is really composed."