Notre Dame Wins NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer Team made history this afternoon -- winning the first ever National Championship in men's soccer and the 30th all-time in the history of Notre Dame athletics!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Notre Dame beat Maryland 2 - 1 after coming back from a 1 goal deficit and the loss of one of its key players Vince Cicciarelli to a shoulder injury just minutes into the game.  Ironically, his replacement Leon Brown scored Notre Dame's first goal with just five minutes left in the first half.

Then with 30 minutes to go Andrew O'Malley (from nearby West Chester, PA) "headed in" the winning goal!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Harrison Smith Back in Vikings Line-up Today!

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith is back from injury today for the Minnesota Vikings.  Here's a video clip of head coach Leslie Frazier talking about Harrison's return:

LINK:  BACK IN THE LINE-UP

Great Notre Dame "Stocking Stuffer" Gift Idea!

Every Notre Dame fan should have one of these on their cell phone!  Click on the link below to buy it online:

LINK:  ND GOLD STANDARD PHONE CASE

What Do the Cubs Do With Samardzija?

There was some buzz yesterday on Twitter that former Notre Dame football All-American Jeff Samardzija had signed a $55 million contract extension with the Chicago Cubs...

It wasn't true.

The hard throwing Domer struck out 214 in 213.1 innings pitched this past season -- good for 4th most in the National League...

Does he sign a contract extension or, do they trade him away?

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA AND THE CUBS

Notre Dame Plays for National Championship!!!

We're less than seven hours away from the biggest men's soccer game in the 171 year history of the University of Notre Dame!

At 3 PM ET on ESPNU -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the "turtles" from Maryland for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!  They played two months ago in South Bend and it took 2 overtime periods for the game to end in a 1 - 1 tie.

It's a match-up of the two top players in the country; Patrick Mullins (Maryland) and Harrison Shipp (Notre Dame).  Mullins scored both goals in their win over Virginia in the semi-finals -- while Shipp assisted on both goals in Notre Dame's win over New Mexico.

IT'S GOING TO BE FUN!

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  MLS SOCCER SITE