Extremely quick player with explosive goal-scoring abilities ... made major contributions off bench before earning a starting role as a junior ... ranked among top 20 goal-scorers in country in sophomore and junior seasons ... has been at her best in big games with eight goals in 12 NCAA championship games.

AS A JUNIOR: Set Irish single-season goal scoring mark in '98 with 28 goals in 25 games, topping 26 goals in 26 games by Cindy Daws in 1996 ... part of highest scoring offense in country that averaged 3.96 goals per game ... her 1.12 goals per game were fifth most in country and 2.44 points per game ranked her 10th nationally ... named to all-BIG EAST first team ... voted Notre Dame National Monogram Club team MVP ... selected to Soccer America team of the week for week of Oct. 19 ... was two-time BIG EAST offensive player-of-the-week selection ... started all 25 games after entering season with 15 career starts ... matched Daws' single-season record with three hat tricks ... totalled three goals against West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wake Forest for three hat tricks ... tallied nine goals in nine games against ranked teams ... scored at least one goal in 17 of 25 games ... recorded at least one point in 19 of 25 games ... scored team's only goals in 1-1-1 stretch of 1-1 tie at Connecticut, 3-2 overtime loss at Seton Hall and 1-0 double overtime win at Michigan ... recorded game-tying goals against Nebraska in NCAA third round and Portland in NCAA quarterfinals ... named to all-tournament team at Notre Dame's KeyBank Soccer Classic ... scored career-high seven points against West Virginia with three goals and an assist

AS A SOPHOMORE: Scored game-tying goal against North Carolina in '97 regular season just three minutes before lightning halted play ... recorded her second career hat trick by scoring on her first three shots against UCLA in NCAA quarterfinals ... joined Mia Hamm as only players to score hat tricks in two NCAA championship games ... big-game player who scored six goals in eight games she played against ranked teams ... started season sharp with three goals in first two games, one against St. John's and two against Michigan State ... scored insurance goal in 3-1 win at Washington ... scored first two goals of game, including gamewinner at Pittsburgh ... scored game-winning goal at Indiana ... scored two goals, including gamewinner, and had an assist against Syracuse ... came off bench to score two goals, including game-winning goal, against Michigan ... sparked Irish off the bench with two goals and an assist against Providence.

AS A FRESHMAN: Scored game-winning goal to clinch '96 BIG EAST title in Notre Dame's 4-3 win over Connecticut ... scored first career hat trick in NCAA first round against Indiana to tie an NCAA championship record for most goals in a game (shares with 19 other players, including former teammate Shannon Boxx and Monica Gerardo) ... second only to Jenny Streiffer among BIG EAST freshmen with seven goals in nine conference games ... scored a goal and recorded three assists in her first collegiate game at Providence ... scored game-winning goal in her second career start against Rutgers ... recorded her first multiple-goal game with two goals and an assist against Seton Hall ... selected to BIG EAST all-rookie team ... came on strong at end of season with 11 goals in eight games from October 20-November 17.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Two-sport standout and four-year letterwinner at Pius XI in soccer and basketball ... led soccer team to state championship in sophomore and junior season ... 1996 Parade All-American ... 1994 and 1995 National Soccer Coaches Association of America high school All-American ... set school record for most goals in one season (40) ... 1995 USA Today Honorable Mention All-American in basketball ... from same high school as former Irish football player Kevin Nosbusch (1972-74) and women's basketball player Heidi Bunek (1986-89) ... born April 1, 1978, in Menomonee Falls, Wis. ... enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters with a major in sociology and computer applications.

Heft's Career Statistics

Year   GP-GS   Sh   G    A    Pts   GW
1996   23-3    46   12   12   36    2
1997   22-12   72   20   4    44    5
1998   25-25   97   28   5    61    7
Totals 70-40   215  60   21   141   14

In the NCAA Championships

Year    GP   G    A   Pts   GW
Total   12   8*   0   16    1

* - Tied NCAA championship single-game record
with hat tricks against Indiana in '96 and UCLA in '97.