Game 15 Preview: @ Virginia Tech

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 5 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (12-2-0, 5-2-0) moved up one spot in the national rankings and will take its now top-5 ranking to Blacksburg on Thursday in a showdown against Virginia Tech (9-4-2, 3-3-1). Oddly enough for conference opponents, the Fighting Irish have not played the Hokies since 2018. With a win, they can even the series against them, currently trailing, 3-4-0.

A.C.C. – A CROWDED CREW

With its recent string of big 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 5-2 and tied for second place alongside North Carolina and Duke. Florida State sits alone in first at 6-1. Keep in mind, the top-two teams will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Historically speaking, Notre Dame has won 11 BIG EAST tournament crowns but are still searching for its first ACC title, let alone first title game. A top-two seed and a bye would be a great start to that quest.

NCAA SOCCER COMMITTEE REVEALS TOP-10

The NCAA women’s soccer committee revealed its midseason top-10 on Oct. 13 and Notre Dame checked in at No. 3. In fact six of the spots belong to ACC teams. In order: UCLA, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida State, Virginia, Duke, Arkansas, Pitt, Northwestern.

If it were to hold, the Irish could secure their first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2008. 

IRISH RESUME

In the RPI rankings on Oct. 16, the Irish came in at the No. 4 spot behind Alabama, UCLA and North Carolina. Notre Dame is 3-2 against the current RPI Top-25. 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 19th in the country.

The Irish have been all over the United Soccer Coaches despite the 12-2-0 record: No. 16 – Unranked – No. 16 – No. 12 – No. 6 – No. 18 – No. 16 – No. 17 – No. 6 – No. 5.

HOLD THE LINE

The Irish backline of Gaetino, Hudson and Klenke has only allowed 32 shots on goal over 14 games – which equates to a stout 2.3 SOG per game. Even shots in general, opponents are averaging just 6.9 against the Irish. 

Six games this season the Irish backline has only allowed one 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 nine shutouts on the year, which is tied for most in the country for a team that hasn’t played more than 14 games. Their shutout percentage of 0.643 ranks 10th in the country.

Notre Dame’s GAA of 0.571 ranks 14th in the country and 1st in the ACC. 

Mackenzie Wood in particular has been stellar in net down the stretch, as her 0.333 GAA ranks 2nd in the country (1st in ACC). Wood has only allowed three goals in nine games. Furthermore, she has collected seven shutouts, including five straight – Virginia, Boston College, NC State, Florida State and Louisville. 

In addition, Wood ranks 8th on the active career leader list in shutouts with 27.

SEARCHING FOR FIVE IN A ROW

During the current four-game win streak, Notre Dame has outscored its opposition 12-0, scoring multiple goals in all four victories. 

The goals have come from the four-headed monster that is the Irish attack: Wingate (4), Albert (3), Van Zanten (3) and Mercado (2). 

SHOTS ON SHOTS

The importance of scoring first? Well, the Irish are 12-0 and undefeated 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. 

Notre Dame is averaging 9.2 shots on goal per game, which ranks 4th nationally (1st in ACC). Overall, the Irish are averaging 19.7 shots per game, which ranks 6th nationally (1st in the ACC).

In comparison, shots on goal differential sit at 129-32 (9.2-2.3). 

All those shots have led to 35 goals on the year, which ranks 22nd in the nation, while the scoring offense (2.5) ranks 14th. Notre Dame has piled up 97 total points which rank 26th in the country.   

Olivia Wingate —   16th goals per game, 1st in ACC (0.71) // 15th in points per game, 2nd in ACC (1.79) // 7th in shot accuracy (.655) // 4th in SOG per game (2.7) // 17th in total goals, 1st in ACC (10) // 13th in total points, 1st in ACC (25).

Maddie Mercado — 11th in game-winning goals, 1st in ACC (4).

Mackenzie Wood — 2nd in GAA, 1st in ACC (.333) // 27th in shutouts, 2nd in ACC (7).

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 six shots on goal. 

The Irish will also get one more opportunity at a top-10 ranked ACC team before season’s end — No. 10 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

OFFENSIVE SPARKPLUGS 

Notre Dame has tallied a 35-8 goal aggregate over the 2022 season. Out of the 35 goals – it’s come from 9 different players: Wingate (10), Mercado (8), Albert (5), Van Zanten (5), 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), as the latter ranks as the most in the ACC and 11th in the country. 

Meanwhile, Wingate has flown past her previous career high of seven with 10 goals this year. Quite frankly, she’s doing it all, leading the team in both goals and assists (5). Wingate’s 25 total points rank 13th in the country and 1st in the ACC. 

Now add in Albert and Van Zanten to complete the four-headed monster that is the Irish attack. As a foursome, they have contributed 71 percent of the team’s points. 

Van Zanten has scored five times over the last nine games, which included an absolute missile from downtown at Louisville. 

Korbin Albert has either started or been later moved up top over the last three games and has three goals to show for it in that span. 

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.

— ND —