A History of Soccer Excellence: The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The University of Notre Dame boasts a rich and storied history in collegiate soccer, with both its men's and women's programs achieving national prominence. From humble beginnings as a club sport to multiple national championships, Notre Dame soccer has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
The Rise of Women's Soccer at Notre Dame
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's soccer team began its journey in 1988 under the guidance of coach Chris Petrucelli. The program quickly ascended to national prominence, capturing its first Big East title in 1995, a watershed moment for the university's athletic program. That same year, led by the exceptional Cindy Daws, Petrucelli's squad secured the program's first national title with a 1-0 victory over Portland.
National Championship Triumphs and Accolades
The women's team has won the National Championship in 1995, 2004 and 2010 and were the runner-up in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2006, and 2008. Notre Dame also ranks second in all-time title game appearances (8) behind North Carolina (24).
Randy Waldrum's 2010 squad etched its name in program history by winning the school's third national title. The team's remarkable 21-2-2 record, coupled with 15 shutouts, made them the lowest-ranked team to achieve this feat, defeating undefeated Stanford in a 1-0 decision. Their postseason dominance was undeniable, outscoring opponents 15-1. This victory also marked their fifth consecutive College Cup appearance, a school record. The senior class of that year achieved a remarkable feat, winning 87 matches in their four years, the most in that span.
Individual brilliance has also been a hallmark of the program. Three Notre Dame players have been honored with the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the nation's best male and female collegiate soccer players: Cindy Daws (1996), Anne Mäkinen (2000), and Kerri Hanks (2006, 2008). Hanks stands out as one of only four players to win the award twice. In recognition of her achievements both on and off the field, Elizabeth Tucker received the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
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Coaching Transitions and Continued Success
On January 3, 2014, Waldrum resigned after 15 seasons with the Fighting Irish to become the head coach of newly established NWSL team Houston Dash. On March 19, 2014, Theresa Romagnolo was appointed as his successor. Prior to coaching the Fighting Irish, Romagnolo had been the women's soccer head coach at Dartmouth the past three seasons, and had also been an assistant coach at Stanford and at the University of San Diego.
The Men's Soccer Program: From Club to National Champions
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's soccer team also boasts a proud history, evolving from a club sport to a national championship-winning program.
Early Years and Club Status
The Irish soccer team was started as a club sport in 1961 by Joe Echelle and Faculty Advisor Mr. Christopher Fagan. The club was made up students representing five continents and was a manifestation of the increasing popularity of soccer as a college sport.
NCAA Tournament Appearances and the Ultimate Triumph
The team has made twenty four appearances in the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament with the most recent coming in 2023.
In a defining moment for the program, Notre Dame won its first men's soccer title with a 2-1 victory over Maryland. Goals from Andrew O'Malley and Leon Brown, along with a standout performance from College Cup co-Most Outstanding Player Harrison Shipp, propelled the Irish to victory.
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La Raza and the Roots of Soccer at Notre Dame
Poking around a Michiana thrift store, history professor Emiliano Aguilar stumbled on a flyer advocating a Notre Dame boycott of Campbell’s Soup in the 1980s. This foray into school history led Aguilar to connect with Somos ND, an initiative sponsoring a yearlong celebration of the legacy of Latino contributions at Notre Dame. In his research, he found a fascinating lost slice of campus sports history. In 1928, about two dozen Latin American students founded a social club called La Raza. “It becomes for them a way of making this very unfamiliar place, a wintry Midwestern campus like Notre Dame, feel like home,” Aguilar said.
Soccer was not widely played at US colleges until after World War II, when it gained popularity mainly in the Northeast. Aguilar’s initial research relied on the archives of Scholastic, a then-weekly student publication that predates The Observer. Pedro de Landero, a professor of Spanish and a fencing and tennis coach, served as a sponsor for the team. He stayed to teach after becoming one of the early Latino graduates of Notre Dame, a tradition that stretches back to the Zahm trains led by Rev. John A. A far-flung adventurer, Father Zahm returned from Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1883 with the University’s first international cohort of about 75 students, who traveled more than 2,000 miles to South Bend on a chartered train. Notre Dame student Miguel Yriberry, a native of Peru, became the team’s first student manager and had to figure out who they would be able to play. Another student, Gonzalo Valdes from Spain, was originally a player and captain on the team, but he took on a coaching role in 1934 after suffering a knee injury. Valdes expanded the team’s competition and formalized its schedules, reaching out to other Latin American societies.
“We’re seeing Scholastic, for instance, take great pride when La Raza beats the University of Michigan,” Aguilar said. “Something that they’re doing, and that they started from the ground up, is getting recognition on campus and in publications, which means a lot to these students living thousands of miles away from home,” he said. “By the time World War II happened, there’s about six club soccer teams on campus that La Raza was competing with. Aguilar said the club’s work extended beyond fellowship. “La Raza also participated in philanthropic work and organized and competed in milk drives,” he said. On a deeper level, Aguilar said, La Raza enabled students to share their Latin American heritage. They would organize lectures about their home countries and host dinners and formals, such as an event to celebrate Día de la Raza, a Latin American alternative to Columbus Day. “It was hard for students to maintain traditions, cultures, and even student organizations if you have to worry about leadership graduating every year,” Aguilar said.
By that time, Aguilar said, soccer was no longer a “niche sport” played by a few ethnic clubs. After Francis Maxwell from Notre Dame’s Department of Physical Education became involved in organizing campus competitions, there was a transition that eventually led to a University club team and varsity sport. At the time of the club’s formation, La Raza was recognized and praised for its competition, leadership, and philanthropy, Aguilar said-and he would like to see them recognized today, too. “I think La Raza is one piece of the broader initiative to recognize that Latin American students have long contributed to the community and respectability around campus,” Aguilar said.
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