Joe Lapira Class: Sophomore Hometown: Lake Charles, LA High School: Saint Louis Catholic Height / Weight: 5-8 / 150 Position: Forward/Midfield

AS A SOPHOMORE: Brings a spark to the Fighting Irish lineup at the forward position with his energy and enthusiasm • able to take players on and hit the ball well • an exciting player as he makes things happen.

AS A FRESHMAN: Played in all 19 games for a total of 805 minutes, while making five starts • responded well once he was moved into the starting lineup due to an injury to Tony Megna • tallied three goals and two assists for a total of eight points, which tied him for fourth on the team • all three of his goals were game-winners • came off the bench to score his first-career goal in a 4-1 win over Georgetown in the Irish's BIG EAST-opener • took a pass from Brian Murphy and beat the Hoya goalkeeper one-on-one in the 72nd minute • teamed up with Luke Boughen to assist on Tony Megna's second goal of the game versus Pittsburgh as the Irish defeated the Panthers 3-0 • fed Boughen for the Fighting Irish's second goal in a 3-0 win versus #22 Michigan • first-career start came in a 1-1 tie at #10 St. John's • started the following game as well and netted Notre Dame's lone goal in a 1-0 victory versus #17 Seton Hall, with the assist going to classmate Alex Yoshinaga in the 81st minute • earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 25 thanks in part to his tally versus the Pirates • put the Irish on the board at the 84:54 mark against Connecticut off a Nate Norman feed as Notre Dame would go on to win 2-0 • earned a monogram.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: 2004 Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year, and an '04 Southwest Louisiana High School Hall of Fame inductee • ended stellar prep career by picking up All-America, all-state and all-district honors, while leading his nationally-ranked St. Louis Catholic squad to conference and state championships • named state, district and team MVP as a senior • two-time all-state selection, district MVP and state champion • three-time all-district selection • honored as State Championship Finals game MVP in both '03 and '04 • member of the '01 regional Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) pool • led club team Cajun Burn to three consecutive state titles in '01, '02 and '03 • also a two-year letterman in swimming and track and field • senior class president, as well as a member of the National Honor Society and the Latin Club, while at St. Louis Catholic • uncle Lou Ferrello is a '69 Notre Dame graduate and cousin Melissa Ferrello is an '03 alumnus • born August 13, 1986 • son of Paul and Catherine Lapira • enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business.