Tag Archives: Notre Dame High School

Johnson’s Notre Dame ‘prayer’ answered, Dons oust Fenwick

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By Michael Wojtychiw

CHICAGO — It was a case of deja vu for Notre Dame.

In 2019, the last season the IHSA held a state playoff series in boys soccer, the Dons made school history by winning the Speer Sectional.

Fast forward two years and the Dons (23-1-2) were back at the same spot, hoping to make it two in a row at Speer’s stadium. But in their way stood Fenwick, who made its first appearance in a sectional final since 2016.

Well the Friars, and a crazy, steady rain that had been falling all day.

What the crowd got was a fantastic one-goal game that was won on a shot from Notre Dame senior Trevor Johnson with a minute, 24 seconds remaining on a ball that even he didn’t think would cross the line.

“I wanted to put it on goal, but it didn’t look like it had a chance to go in,” Johnson said after Notre Dame’s 4-3 win. “Once it started to curl, you could see it was going to look in and luckily snuck past the keeper.

“It’s the last minute. It was a prayer.”

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Notre Dame keeps bragging rights, takes down St. Patrick

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CHICAGO – The Irish Cup is staying in Niles.

For the second time in just under six months, Notre Dame and St. Patrick faced off in their annual rivalry match. Just like their March 24 match, the Dons came home victorious.

That game, a 3-1 Notre Dame win, had quite a different feel than Thursday evening’s matchup at Read-Dunning Field.

Notre Dame’s Andres Barrezueta (6) tries to hold off an oncoming St. Patrick defender Sept. 16 in Chicago. Photos by Michael Wojtychiw

The Dons, listed in Chicagoland Soccer’s honorable mention section of the most recent rankings, came into the match enjoying the best start in school history. They have outscored their opponents 48-4 through 10 games.

That best start continued as Notre Dame (10-1-0, 3-0-0 East Suburban Catholic) came away with a hard-fought 1-0 win.

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Early goals help Notre Dame hold off Marist

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NILES — The 2021 calendar year has been quite a successful one for the Notre Dame boys soccer program.

After setting a school record with six conference wins during the spring 2021 COVID-influenced season, the fall version of the squad, which returned 21 of 24 players, had already hit that mark with three conference games remaining entering Saturday’s contest with Marist.

Notre Dame’s Jack Plovanich looks to get past a Marist defender Oct. 2 in Niles. Photos by Michael Wojtychiw

The fall season has gone even better for the Dons (16-1-1), who already have set a new school record for regular-season wins and earned the program’s first top seed, in the Speer Sectional, for the upcoming state playoffs.

The Dons, ranked 22nd in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, can add one more first as they set a new school record with their seventh East Suburban Catholic Conference win, a 2-1 decision over Marist that improved their East Suburban Catholic Conference record to 7-0-0.

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Notre Dame dominates Leo

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Notre Dame picks up first win

BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW                                                                  September 17, 2011

It took four games, but Notre Dame finally got that elusive first victory of the 2011 season Friday night as the Dons held on to defeat visiting Leo 27-8 in Niles.

“It’s a really good feeling to get it,’’ said quarterback Nick Pieruccini. “We needed it and we just have to take it one game at a time to get to the goal of the playoffs.’’

Notre Dame (1-3) rushed out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first quarter, as sophomore running back Chris James scored on a 32-yard run. His run capped off a six-play, 86 yard drive, in which James rushed for 59 yards.

Down 14-0 before the half, a fumble on a failed double reverse gave Leo (2-2) its best starting field position it would have all night, at the Notre Dame 32. Unfortunately for the Lions, quarterback Jarod Cooper threw four incomplete passes and the threat was thwarted.

Leo was able the hold the ball for the majority of the third quarter, 10-and-a half total, but was unable to capitalize. Both drives ended at within the Notre Dame 25.

Through out the first three and a half quarters, the two teams combined for 14 points. Within the last six minutes of the game, the two combined for 21, as the Dons widened their lead to 20-0 on a 15-yard pass from Pieruccini to Joe Parrinello.

Leo answered on a 61-yard screen pass from Cooper to speedy running back Keith Harris Jr.

The Dons would answer back four plays later, when Nick Lato broke through for a 38-yard touchdown to cap the scoring.

“Our offense works much better when the run is setting up the pass,’’ said Pieruccini. “As you can see, it makes it flow a lot more easily and makes us look better.’’

Pieruccini would finish completing 8 of 14 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. He also added a one-yard rushing touchdown. James finished with 118 yards on 13 carries.

Harris Jr. finished with 74 yards on 22 carries for the Lions.