Irish look to extend win streak against Big Ten
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Associate Sports Editor
After capping off a perfect Big East season with a 7-1 victory over Miami on Sunday, the Notre Dame women's soccer team travels to Big Ten country to take on the Badgers of Wisconsin today at 6 p.m.
Notre Dame has a 37 game winning-streak against the Big Ten dating back to a 1989 loss to Michigan State on Sept. 22. The Irish have also taken nine straight from the Badgers since they lost in 1989 to open the 10-game series between the two schools.
The Irish are led by a trio of record setting players in Jenny Streiffer, Jenny Heft and Anne Makinen.
Streiffer became just the fourth player in NCAA history to record 60 goals and 60 assists in a career with a hat trick against the Hurricanes. Streiffer's 62 goals and 65 assists give her 189 points for her career, just one point behind Monica Gerardo for the all-time Irish points leader. Heft's hat trick led to her being named Big East offensive player of the week.
Heft scored her 74th career goal on Friday to surpass Gerardo as the all-time leading goal scorer in Irish history. Heft also set the record for goals in a season 1998 with the 28.
Makinen has scored a point in 11 straight games for the Irish. Makinen tied the Irish record for consecutive games with a point with a point against Miami. With a point against Wisconsin, Makinen would surpass teammates Streiffer, Meotis Erikson and former Irish All-American Holly Manthei for the Irish record.
The Irish will need all their record setters to perform well against a strong Badger defense led by freshman goalkeeper Kelly Conway. Conway has made nine saves in the last two games — both tough 1-0 losses for Wisconsin. Conway has compiled a 0.77 goals against average in her first collegiate season.
The Irish have a top goalkeeper of their own in senior LaKeysia Beene. Beene is a preseason All-American and has been named a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club player of the year award. Beene has compiled a 1.15 goals against average and a .722 save percentage so far in 1999.
Beene has a solid defense in front of her as well. Senior defender was named Big East defensive player of the week for her play against the Huskies and the Hurricanes last weekend.
Senior All-American and preseason Big East defensive player of the year Jen Grubb, junior captain Kelly Lindsey and freshman Vanessa Pruzinsky round out the back line for the Irish.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, October 27, 1999
