SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 17 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (10-2-0, 3-2-0) kicked off a big two-game home week on Thursday night with a 3-0 victory over NC State (7-4-3, 2-3-0) inside Alumni Stadium. Notre Dame improves to 7-1 at home.
Notre Dame has now scored three goals or more in seven of its 12 games this season, improving its goal aggregate to 29-8. Tonight also marked sixth time this season the Irish backline of Eva Gaetino, Waniya Hudson and Leak Klenke have allowed one shot on goal or less.
Senior Kiki Van Zanten scored off a penalty kick in the 26th minute of the match. It marked Van Zanten’s fourth goal of the season and fourth goal over the past seven games. It also marked her second-game-winner on the year.
Goal number two came from No. 2 Korbin Albert in the 65th minute. The Illinois native hit a hooking shot, while falling down, that bent around the keeper and in. Just seven minutes later Albert got her second goal of the match in which her fancy footwork freed up a shot in the box when she was covered by three defenders.
It marked Albert’s third and fourth goals of the season and her fourth career brace.
Sophia Fisher assisted Albert’s first goal, picking up her second assist of the season. Olivia Wingand assisted Albert’s second and now leads the team with four. In fact, Wingate now boasts a team best 18 points.
Graduate goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood received the starting nod yet again and recorded her third consecutive shutout and fifth overall on the season.
How It Happened
In the first half it was one Notre Dame shot on goal to zero from NC State; however, that one shot on goal was a successful penalty kick by Van Zanten. Possession-wise, it was split right down the middle, though one could argue Notre Dame’s press did result in more chances.
Less than five minutes into the second half Erin Hohnstein came inches away from registering her first career goal. The senior hit a header in the middle of the box that richoeted off the left post.
In the 58th minute, Olivia Wingate flashed that speed of hers on a breakaway, however, the grad student created a tough angle for herself deep in the box when she finally released her shot.
It then became the Korbin Albert show late in the second half. Her first goal started via Van Zanten working the ball into NC State’s defensive third. Van Zanten then dished to Fisher who then found Albert.
Another Wingate breakaway in the 72nd minute set up Albert in the box. Albert then juked a few NC State defenders before buying the ball in the net.
Notre Dame finished with 16 shots compared to NC State’s four, including a 6-1 shots-on-goal advantage.
Up Next
Notre Dame will look to knock off another top-5 team at home, this time No. 3 Florida State. The Irish and Seminoles will kick off at Noon ET inside Alumni Stadium, with the game airing nationally on ESPNU.
— ND —