Oct. 10, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore forward Jeffrey Farina showcased a flair for the dramatic during Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) clash between the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team and Duke. After the Blue Devils rallied from a two-goal deficit, and after narrowly missing on a chance at the winning score in regulation, Farina buried a corner kick from Patrick Hodan by way of Matt Habrowski in the 97th minute to lift No. 7/4 Notre Dame to a 3-2 win in overtime at Alumni Stadium.
The overtime victory was the 17th straight result earned by Notre Dame (8-2-3, 3-1-1 ACC) in a match that went to extra time since 2012. The Irish outshot Duke (5-5-2, 0-4-1 ACC) 13-12 on the day, including 3-1 in the overtime period.
“To be fair it was a funny game, because we got the two goals up and were thinking we had won the game,” Notre Dame head coach Bobby Clark said. “Full marks to Duke, they came back and fought their way back into the game. At 2-2 we came back and started playing, but between the second goal and going to 2-2 we were passive. Once it was tied we suddenly woke up and said we had to win the game. From then on we were the better team.
“The only time I felt they were dangerous from then on was in set pieces, they have a lot of huge kids in there,” Clark added.
Michael Shipp found Farina all alone in the 82nd minute, and as he was hauled to the ground inside the box his shot carried wide of the left post. The Irish were forced to settle for an empty trip on a potential foul during the last crucial possession in regulation.
Hodan and Jon Gallagher each had tempting tries from inside of the box blocked out of play in the 97th minute to set up the Notre Dame corner kick. Hodan lofted an expert attempt from the right flag, which Habrowski centered with a header at the far post. Farina was on the scene to clean up the loose ball with a sweeping right foot at 96:43 for his first goal of the season and the Irish victory.
“It was very fitting that Jeffrey Farina would get the goal because he got taken down earlier, toward the end of regulation,” Clark said. “He had a great chance as he was about to hit it and was taken badly out. It was really nice and fitting that he got the winning goal.”
Notre Dame was able to make the first offensive surge of the match count in the 15th minute. Evan Panken found space up the left side and uncorked a hard shot toward the near post that was saved by Duke goalkeeper Mitch Kupstas. An errant Blue Devil clearance found its way to the tri-captain Hodan, who buried his second goal of the year from seven yards out for the 1-0 Irish lead at 14:27.
Duke looked to build up the offensive momentum in the 26th minute. Chris Hubbard punched a blast from 25 yards by Ryan Thompson over the crossbar. The Blue Devils made a solid attempt at the following corner from the left flag but a Jeremy Ebobisse volley went over the net.
Thomas Ueland skied for a clean header win on a Notre Dame corner kick in the 39th minute, but the shot was blocked over the Duke goal. Ueland connected on a header on the ensuing Irish corner, but the attempt sailed wide of the left post. The teams went into the break with Notre Dame leading 1-0 at halftime.
Hodan added cushion to the Notre Dame lead in the 55th minute. An Irish run down right wing ended in a Duke foul and a Notre Dame free kick attempt. Hodan made the most of the chance, clocking a strong left foot from 24 yards into the left corner of the net at 54:31 for his second of the afternoon to vault the Irish in front 2-0.
“Once it starts again for Patrick…he has been playing with a minor injury,” Clark said. “It’s nice that we have a break in the schedule, really a week to get him and everyone back fully fit. This sets us up quite nicely for the run in the ACC.”
Duke answered in the 59th minute on a well-scored goal by Brian White. Ciaran McKenna saved possession on the Notre Dame end line and centered a pass to Carter Manley. Manley served a looping cross from the right flank to a cutting White at the back post, who headed home his fourth of the year at 58:56 to trim the Duke deficit to 2-1.
Great touch passing from Blake Townes to tri-captain Max Lachowecki found Farina open in front of the Duke net in the 65th minute. A strong left from Farina sailed over the crossbar and out of play.
Markus Fjortoft sent a great through ball ahead to Ebobisse down the right flank in the 69th minute, but a left-footed try against his momentum on the run carried over the goal and out of bounds.
A foul call at the top of the Notre Dame box in the 75th minute gave the Blue Devils a look at an equalizing free kick. Brody Huitema converted from the mark with a deflection off an Irish defender into the right corner of the netting to tie the match at 2-2 at 74:27.
“The nice thing about the team at this minute is that they all know what they can do, it’s just to do it game-after-game,” Clark said. “I was so proud of them because this week, playing last Sunday and then Wednesday and playing again Saturday morning, they were fantastic all week. All we’ve done is played and regenerated, we haven’t had a real training session all week. Matt Howley our fitness coach has seen them possibly more than I have doing all of the regeneration.”
Notre Dame is set to resume ACC play on Oct. 16, traveling to Virginia Tech for a 5:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff. The match will air live on the Regional Sports Network and ESPN3.
“It was a good win, a hard win,” Clark said. “Again full marks to Duke, they had played on Monday, were down two goals and came back. What I like about our team is that in all of our overtime games this year, we have been the team that’s wanted to win it. That’s a real testimony to the character and attitude of this group of players. They weren’t sitting there thinking of coasting out, they were wanting to win the game.”
Oct. 10, 2015
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 3, Duke 2
(OT)
Alumni Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Duke 0 2 0 — 2
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 1 1 1 — 3
ND 1. Patrick Hodan (2) (Max Lachowecki), 14:27; ND 2. Hodan 2 (3) (–), 54:31; DU 1. Brian White (4) (Carter Manley, Ciaran McKenna), 58:56; DU 2. Brody Huitema (3) (–), 74:27; ND 3. Jeffrey Farina (Matt Habrowski, Hodan), 96:43.
Shots: ND 13 (4-6-3), DU 12 (4-7-1)
Shots on goal: ND 4 (2-1-1), DU 7 (1-5-1)
Saves: ND 5 (Chris Hubbard 5 in 96:43), DU 1 (Mitch Kupstas 1 in 96:43)
Corner Kicks: ND 5 (2-2-1), DU 6 (3-3-0)
Fouls: ND 12, DU 15
Offsides: ND 1, DU 1
Yellow Cards: Cody Brinkman (DU) 28:51; Blake Townes (ND) 74:24; Evan Panken (ND) 82:04
Attendance: 2,018
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant