By Dick Sparrer
There was just one thing standing between unbeaten Portland and a national championship.
Make that one person--Saratoga's Jen Renola.
Portland was battling the University of Notre Dame in the NCAA women's soccer championship game, and the former Saratoga soccer star was in the net for the Fighting Irish.
And not just for the regulation two halves. The Notre Dame goaltender was in the net through regulation and two overtime periods before the Irish pulled out a thrilling 1-0 win to claim the national championship.
Renola, of course, played no small part in that victory. The 'tender came through with six saves to help preserve the shutout. It was the 13th shutout of the year for the Notre Dame goalkeeper. More importantly, it was her second in a row.
A game earlier the Irish had edged nine-time defending national champ North Carolina 1-0 to set up the title game against Portland. In fact, Notre Dame did not allow a goal in six post-season games, and finished the year with an impressive 21-2-2 record.
Renola was one of five Notre Dame players voted to the all-championship team at the tournament's conclusion. She also earned all-Big East second-team honors this past year and was selected to play for the north squad at the United States Olympic Festival.
Renola, 22-6-1 against top-25 teams in her two-year career for the Irish, came through with 68 saves in 25 games this fall and recorded the 13 shutouts.
The junior was selected to the All-America first team a year ago.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, Wednesday, January 10, 1996.
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