Mastodons Fall to Notre Dame in Final Exhibition Tune-Up

Sunday, August 29

Hefner Stadium

2:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Notre Dame

Freshman Diego Habib fights off a Notre Dame defender

Mastodons Fall to Notre Dame in Final Exhibition Tune-Up

8/29/2010 5:11:24 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Fort Wayne, IN - A pair of first-half scores from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were enough to hold off the IPFW Mastodons in the team's final exhibition match, as the 'Dons fell 3-0.

The Fighting Irish's first strike came in the game's 30th minute off the foot of junior midfielder Adam Mena. Mena pushed the ball up the center of the IPFW defense, eventually gathering himself about 25 yards out beforing firing a laser past IPFW keeper Shari Clarke.

Just five minutes later, the Irish would tack on score number two as Notre Dame freshman midfielder Harrison Shipp's fancy footwork paid off. He made a turn inside the box to beat the IPFW defender and fired a left-footed blast past Clarke, giving his team a healthy two-goal cushion.

The Irish's third and final goal came with just 12 seconds showing on the scoreboard as Mena put his second tally of the match on the board with a straight-on, right-footed shot from 12 yards out. Teammate Eric Tilley was credited with the assist.

Notre Dame outshot IPFW 9-7 in a statistically balanced showing from both sides. Junior Colin Helmrich led the 'Dons with three shots.

Freshman keeper Justin Hanford and senior Shari Clarke each posted a save for the 'Dons, who used all four goaltenders in the game.

Every Mastodon player in uniform saw significant action in the squad's final exhibition tune-up of the season, in preparation for Wednesday's regular season opener in Indianapolis against the Butler Bulldogs. Kick-off in that match is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

~Dons~