Game 12 Preview: NC State

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 17th ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team (9-2-0, 2-2-0) has a simple mission for the week – protect the pitch. The Fighting Irish have two games inside Alumni Stadium this week where they have been very dominant over the past few years. Up first, NC State (7-3-3, 2-2-0) on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 pm ET. Then No. 3 Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Noon.

ND VS NC STATE – THE SERIES

Notre Dame owns a 7-3-0 series advantage over NC State with a 4-0-0 record at home. The series dates back to September of 1992.

Last season, the Irish went into Raleigh and left with a 2-1 victory. It was two freshmen who shone bright with goals from Korbin Albert and Katie Coyle. It marked Coyle’s first career game-winner.

IRISH RESUME

In the updated RPI rankings on Oct. 3, the Irish moved up a spot to No. 3 behind UCLA and Pitt in that order. Notre Dame is 2-1 against the RPI Top-25, 3-2 against the Top-50 and 4-2 against the Top-100. 

The Irish boast three ranked wins on the season – No. 19 Saint Louis (road game), No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 2 Virginia.

Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 9th in the country this week. 

Now, when it comes to the United Soccer Coaches poll, it seems they don’t know where to place the Irish for this has been the weekly poll progression despite the 9-2-0 record with the above accolades: No. 16 – Unranked – No. 16 – No. 12 – No. 6 – No. 18 – No. 16 – No. 17.

SHOTS ON SHOTS

Notre Dame is averaging 9.9 shots on goal per game, which ranks 4th  nationally (1st in ACC). Overall, the Irish are averaging 21.4 shots per game, which ranks 4th nationally as well (1st in the ACC).

In comparison, Notre Dame is up 235-70 (21.4 vs 6.4) over the opposition in total shots. Meanwhile, the shots on goal differential sits at 109-24 (9.9-2.2). All those shots have led to 26 goals on the year, which ranks 39th in the nation, while the scoring offense (2.36) ranks 34th.  

Notre Dame’s ability to stretch the field has led to a national ranking of 4th in corner kicks (1st in ACC) – 7.7 per game. Notre Dame has scored twice off corners this season: Sept. 11 vs Ohio, a Gaetino header & Sept. 22 vs Virginia, a Mercado goal off a deflection. 

Olivia Wingate —   10th in shots per game (4.4) // 3rd in shots on goal per game (2.8) // 18th in shot accuracy (0.646) // 33rd in goals per game (0.64) // 30th in points per game (1.55)

Maddie Mercado — 4th in game-winning goals (4) // 17th in shots per game (4.0) // 10th in shots on goal per game (2.3) // 33rd in goals per game (0.64)

Mackenzie Wood — 19th in goals against average (.500)

NOTABLE NOTES

The importance of scoring first? Well, the Irish are 9-0 when doing so. Both times ND has trailed this season at the half (both 1-0 scores at the time), they’ve suffered a loss. 

The Irish backline of Gaetino, Hudson and Klenke have only allowed 24 shots on goal over 11 games – which equates to a stout 2.2 SOG per game. Even shots in general, opponents are averaging just 6.4 against the Irish. 

Five games the Irish backline has only allowed 1 SOG or fewer: Boston College (9/30), Virginia (9/22), Saint Louis (8/25), Western Michigan (8/21) and Marquette (8/18).

Notre Dame’s defensive/goalie crew boasts six shutouts on the year. Mackenzie Wood in particular has been stellar in net, as her 0.500 GAA ranks 19th in the country, allowing three goals in six games. Furthermore, she has collected four shutouts, including her last two starts – Virginia and Boston College. 

HOME SWEET HOME

The Irish have made Alumni Stadium a difficult venue for opposing programs to succeed. Since its creation in 2009, Notre Dame has gone 114-28-6, good for a .795 winning percentage. In fact, they have only surrendered one loss, or incurred none, on six separate seasons. 

This year the Irish are off to a 6-1-0 start inside Alumni this year. Last season, Notre Dame went 10-1-1 with its lone loss being a 3-2 decision to Clemson in the ACC Tournament. Therefore,  Notre Dame is 16-2-1 at home over its past two seasons. Since the start of the 2019 season, the Irish are 28-5-2 at home. 

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS LIST

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood ranks 22nd on the active career leader list in saves, collecting 265 over her career. In addition, Wood ranks 15th on the active career leader list in shutouts with 24.

Also, Wood ranks 3rd on the longest current games started streaks among ACC women’s soccer players: 96, Alexa Spaanstra (Virginia) // 77, Sarah Hernandez (Louisville) // 67, Mackenzie Wood (Notre Dame) // 63, Sophie Jones (Duke) // 63, Athalie Palomo (Pitt). 

OFFENSIVE SPARKPLUGS 

Notre Dame has tallied a 26-8 goal aggregate over the 2022 season. Out of the 26 goals – it’s come from 9 different players: Wingate (7), Mercado (7), Van Zanten (3), Klenke (2), Albert (2), Ospeck (2), Coyle, Fisher and Gaetino. 

Mercado and Wingate are having career years up top, much like how Sammi Fisher did a year ago. Mercado has already scored a career high in goals with 7 (previous was 5) and boasts 4 game-winners to boot (previous career best was 3). Mercado’s 4 game-winners are the most in the ACC and rank 4th in the country.

Meanwhile, Wingate has now tied her career best of seven goals set a season ago in 2021. The duo has combined for 33 of the team’s 72 points, so nearly half (45.8 percent). 

Kiki Van Zanten has scored three times over the last six games and is on the verge of joining Wingate and Mercado with double-digit points. The senior currently has 8. 

BEST WINGMAN

Senior left-wing midfielder Kati Druzina is once again lending a helping hand, or should I say foot, in the assist department. During the 2021 campaign, Druzina tied for second on the team in assists with five, which included her first career multi-assist game (tallied 2) against Brown.

This season, Druzina is tied with Wingate for the team lead in assists with three – against Marquette, Illinois and Ohio. 

— ND —