Oct. 20, 2016
By Joanne Norell
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team tied for the fourth time this season, playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer Thursday afternoon against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech at Thompson Field in Blacksburg.
The 14th-ranked Irish (10-2-4, 5-1-2 ACC) claimed their 11th shutout of the season, with senior goalkeeper Kaela Little earning her ninth solo shutout of the season with six saves. The Irish were held scoreless for just the third time in 2016.
Notre Dame outshot the 25th-ranked Hokies (10-4-3, 2-3-3 ACC) 13-12, though Virginia Tech managed a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. The Irish also held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. Senior Kaleigh Olmsted and freshman Jennifer Westendorf led all players with three shots apiece, while sophomore Shannon Hendricks and freshman Alexis Martel-Lamothe each added a pair of shots on goal.
Player of the Game
Little turned in another strong performance, rejecting six Hokie shots and recording her ninth shutout of the season. She also lowered her goals against average to 0.42 from 0.45 prior to the game.
Coach Theresa.Romagnolo Says
On the team’s demeanorââ’¬¦
“I thought it was a more average game for us. We definitely could have played a lot better. It’s good to walk away with a tie, because we know we can definitely play better. We didn’t generate a lot on our attack. We were reacting more than being the aggressor. We need to be more assertive. I’d like to see the group be a little hungrier on Sunday (against Wake Forest) and set the tone and be more aggressive. As a group we need to bring more energy and more quality.”
On the play of Littleââ’¬¦
“Kaela had a good game and had a good save in first half, but most of what she saved was routine, playing on crosses. I would say Kaela was our most consistent player today.”
Note of the Game
It was the fifth overtime game of the year for the Irish, who own a 1-0-4 record in those contests. It is the first time in program history that the Irish have recorded four draws in a season. The last time the Irish played in five overtime games was during the 2007 season, when they went 1-2-2 in those games.
— ND —
Joanne Norell, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2014 and coordinates communications efforts for the Notre Dame women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and fencing programs. Norell is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, and earned her master’s degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University in 2013.