Card's offense paces 3-0 Notre Dame win

Friday, January 1, 1904

If Notre Dame needed a wake-up call this soccer season, Signal Mountain's 4-3 win over the Irish during the regular season was more like fingernails on the chalkboard. It was Signal's first-ever win in boys' or girls' soccer over Notre Dame and set up a do-or-die district tournament semifinal Tuesday evening.

This time, the Irish got it done.

Baggio Card recorded two goals and an assist, and the Irish found their way back to the 7-A/AA championship match with a 3-0 victory over the Eagles. Notre Dame will face Chattanooga Christian on Thursday.

The Eagles, who played without two starters Tuesday, jumped out to a three-goal advantage in the teams' first meeting. This time the Irish had a two-goal advantage before halftime and never let off the gas.

"It was the first time they'd been up on us, and it surprised us," Card said of the previous matchup. "We knew we had to be better this time around."

Card scored on an assist by Robert Kidwell, then scored on a penalty kick after Signal Mountain was called for a handball in the box.

In the final minutes of the match, Card assisted Christian Colvard on a goal.

"The first time we played them, we were flat and didn't have a lot of intensity," Notre Dame coach Jim Schermerhorn said. "We knew we had to work hard and play better, and I'm glad we were able to."

Signal Mountain keeper Adam Pickett made six saves.