Irish Will Bring Along Three Women’s Soccer Titles
These days it seems, when conference affiliations change for colleges and universities, is usually is all about collegiate football. The impact on the respective leagues’ soccer competition isn’t a factor.
The announcement that Notre Dame would join the Atlantic Coast Conference as it’s 15th member institution is a bit different. The Fighting Irish will remain independent in intercollegiate football, and it’s intercollegiate soccer programs will indeed make an impact on the league’s soccer competition.
At the time of the announcement, Notre Dame’s women’s team, coached by Randy Waldrum, was 3-3-1. The Irish have won the national championship three times, second only to UNC’s 20 NCAA D-I titles.
Notre Dame has never won a Division I men’s national soccer championship, but has long been a strong contender for BIG EAST Conference honors.
Steve Swanson’s men’s team opened the 2012 season 5-0 after beating Akron, 3-1, to win the Irish’s Mike Berticelli Tournament championship.
There is no specific date as to when Notre Dame will be eligible for ACC play. That depends on how quickly the Irish can complete separation from the BIG EAST.
Syracuse and Pittsburgh are both in the process of leaving the BIG EAST for the ACC, and are expected to be full members of the ACC in 2013-14.
Neither Syracuse or Pittsburgh have traditionally enjoyed the same level of success in intercollegiate soccer as has Notre Dame.
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