Game 14 Preview: at Louisville

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The United Soccer Coaches poll took notice of Notre Dame women’s soccer’s big week with wins over NC State and No. 3 Florida State, jumping the Irish 11 positions to No. 6. This week, the Irish (11-2-0, 4-2-0) turn their attention to the Louisville Cardinals (5-5-2, 2-4-0). They’ll hit the road for a Saturday night matchup at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium at 7 pm ET. The match will be streamed on ACCNX.

IRISH RESUME

In the RPI rankings on Oct. 10, the Irish came in at the No. 4 spot behind UCLA, North Carolina and Alabama. Notre Dame is 4-2 against the RPI Top-25, which marks the most wins of any team in the country. Furthermore, the Irish are 5-2 against the Top-50 and 7-2 against the Top-100. 

The Irish boast four ranked wins on the season, including two against the top-three: No. 19 Saint Louis (road game), No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State

Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 11th in the country.

STATEMENT VICTORIES – TOP-THREE’S GOING DOWN

With a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Virginia and a dominant 4-0 win over No. 3 Florida State, Notre Dame has now earned two top-three wins during the regular season for the first time in program history. In addition, it marks the first time Notre Dame has beaten both Virginia and Florida State in the same season since joining the ACC in 2013. 

For Notre Dame, it was its largest win against a top-3 program since Sept. 8, 2000 (6-1 win over #2 Santa Clara).

Not to mention, defensively, both games were shutouts, with Virginia and FSU combining for just 6 shots on goal. 

The Irish will also get one more opportunity at a top-12 ranked ACC team before the season’s end — No. 12 Duke in the home finale on Oct. 27. 

QUOTABLES AFTER FSU WIN

“That is what we should bring to every single game. That energy and that ability to keep the ball and attack and press teams. We talk about our identity being the best press team in the country and that was phenomenal. We were relentless and risk-taking and we also had that grit. This is our standard now. This is what we do.” – Doug & Lisa Jones Family Head Coach Nate Norman

“There is 100% a mentality difference. Going into these games, if we do what we do and we do it right, we will win these games. And that’s what I think we showed today. We have more confidence. I think we just need to have the humility to know that every game from here on out is going to be a battle, and we’re going to have to bring it every single game.” – Eva Gaetino

SHOTS ON SHOTS

Notre Dame is averaging 9.6 shots on goal per game, which ranks 3rd nationally (1st in ACC). Overall, the Irish are averaging 20.3 shots per game, which ranks 5th nationally (1st in the ACC).

In comparison, Notre Dame is up 264-83 (20.3 vs 6.4) over the opposition in total shots. Shots on goal differential sit at 125-30 (9.6-2.3). 

All those shots have led to 33 goals on the year, which ranks 17th in the nation, while the scoring offense (2.5) ranks 13th. Notre Dame has piled up 91 total points which rank 24th in the country.   

Notre Dame’s ability to stretch the field has led to a national ranking of 18th in corner kicks (3rd in ACC) – 7.0 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. 

Defensively, ND’s shutout percentage of 0.615 ranks 17th. 

Olivia Wingate —   20th goal per game (0.69) // 14th in points per game (1.77) // 5th in shot accuracy (.685) // 14th in shots per game (4.2) // 3rd in SOG per game (2.9) // 18th in total goals (9) // 12th in total points (23)

Maddie Mercado — 6th in game-winning goals (4) // 15th in SOG per game (2.1) 

Mackenzie Wood — 5th in goals against average (.375) // 29th in shutouts (6)

NOTABLE NOTES

The importance of scoring first? Well, the Irish are 11-0 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 30 shots on goal over 13 games – which equates to a stout 2.3 SOG per game. Even shots in general, opponents are averaging just 6.4 against the Irish. 

In six games, aka nearly half their games this season, the Irish backline has only allowed 1 SOG or fewer: NC State (Oct. 6), 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 8 shutouts on the year. Mackenzie Wood in particular has been stellar in net, as her 0.375 GAA ranks 5th in the country, allowing three goals in eight games. Furthermore, she has collected six shutouts, including her last 4 starts – Virginia, Boston College, NC State and Florida State.

ACC – A CROWDED CREW

With its recent string of wins, Notre Dame has caused quite the crowded field atop an ACC leaderboard in which only six teams make the conference tournament. The Irish are 4-2 and tied for third place alongside North Carolina and Pitt. Florida State and Duke sit one win ahead in first with a 5-1 record. 

Now Notre Dame had won 11 BIG EAST tournament crowns back in the day but are still searching for its first ACC title, let alone its first title game. 

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS LIST

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood ranks 23rd on the active career leader list in saves, collecting 271 over her career. 

In addition, Wood ranks 11th on the active career leader list in shutouts with 26.

OFFENSIVE SPARKPLUGS 

Notre Dame has tallied a 33-8 goal aggregate over the 2022 season. Out of the 33 goals – it’s come from 9 different players: Wingate (9), Mercado (8), Albert (5), Van Zanten (4), Klenke (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 boasts a career high in goals (8) and game-winners (4). Mercado’s 4 game-winners are the most in the ACC and rank 6th in the country. 

Meanwhile, Wingate has flown past her previous career high of seven with nine goals this year. Quite frankly, she’s doing it all, leading the team in both goals and assists (5). Wingate’s 23 total points rank 12th in the country and 2nd in the ACC. 

Wingate and Mercado have combined for 45 percent of the team’s points. The four-headed monster of Wingate, Mercado, Albert and Van Zanten have contributed 69 percent of the team’s points. 

Kiki Van Zanten has scored 4 times over the last 8 games and reached double-digit points on the season. 

Korbin Albert has played up top over the last two games and has three goals to show for it in that span. She too moved into double-digit points with 12 – third most on the team.  

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 ranks second again, this time behind Wingate. Druzina boasts three assists – against Marquette, Illinois and Ohio. 

FIVE ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS – 4 PLAYERS

Out of the first four weeks for ACC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week announcements, Notre Dame has claimed three honorees.

In her second week into collegiate soccer, Leah Klenke was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30 in her efforts in the wins over No. 19 Saint Louis and Illinois. Klenke started at left back in both shutout victories. She also led to Sophia Fisher’s second half goal against Saint Louis, then recorded a beautiful goal against Illinois in which she floated a ball from outside the box on the left side, over the keeper and into the far post of the net. 

A week later on Sept. 6, Olivia Wingate took home the offensive honor after registering her first career hat trick in a dominant 4-1 win over a ranked Wisconsin squad. 

A week later on Sept. 13, it was Kiki Van Zanten who earned the offensive ACC nod. The senior scored in back-to-back games in wins over Purdue and Ohio, including a three-point performance against the latter. 

On Oct. 11, it was a double dose of Irish after the big wins over NC State and No. 3 FSU. Wingate earned Offensive POTW for the second time, while goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood picked up her first defensive award. Wingate tallied six points in the two games, while Wood earned two shutouts with a total of six saves. 

— ND —