Sept. 11, 2017
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. ââ’¬” Fresh off his first career hat trick on Sept. 8 at Boston College, University of Notre Dame men’s soccer senior forward Jon Gallagher was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Gallagher became the first Irish player to claim a weekly award from the conference office thus far in 2017, and was also included on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week in recognition of his performance.
? Pinpoint runs to set up free kicks
âš½️ Stellar passing to find the open man
? Hat trick earnedA team effort led to tonight’s three goals pic.twitter.com/GPouc3wddh
– ND Men’s Soccer (@NDMenSoccer) September 9, 2017
Gallagher was the most outstanding player on the field in the opening ACC game of 2017 for both Notre Dame and Boston College, scoring three goals in just over 30 minutes of game action in a 3-1 victory for the #6 Irish in Newton, Massachusetts. Gallagher’s hat trick was just the second by a Notre Dame player in ACC play (Brandon Aubrey against Virginia Tech on Sept. 9, 2016), and only the third overall by an Irish player since the 2012 season.
Gallagher opened the game’s scoring by burying a curling free kick from just over 20 yards out under the crossbar in the right corner of the net for a 1-0 Notre Dame lead at 49:04. Great passing from Jack Casey and Sean Dedrick on the right flank allowed Gallagher a free run to the left post, where a leaping header deposited a Dedrick cross for Gallagher’s second of the night and a 2-0 advantage at 73:57.
Just over one minute after Boston College pulled within one goal at 2-1, Notre Dame won a free kick in nearly the same area that Gallagher previously scored from in the 50th minute. The senior tri-captain and MAC Hermann Trophy Award Watch List selection hit nearly a carbon copy bending strike inside the right post for his third and final goal of the night at 81:35. Gallagher led all players with six shot attempts on the night, including five on goal.
After four starts in 2017, Gallagher paces the ACC with 23 total shot attempts and 5.75 shots per game. The 2016 ACC Offensive Player of the Year also ranks among the top 10 goal scorers in the ACC following his hat trick, and moved into the top 20 on the all-time Notre Dame goals (29, tied for 12th) and points (71, tied for 16th) lists.
2017 Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Weekly Honors
ACC Offensive Player of the Week
Jon Gallagher ââ’¬” Sept. 11
College Soccer News National Player of the Week
Jeff Farina ââ’¬” Aug. 28
College Soccer News National Team of the Week
Jon Gallagher ââ’¬” Sept. 11
Jeff Farina ââ’¬” Aug. 28
–ND–
Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.