Game 16 Preview: @ Wake Forest

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The last regular-season road test awaits No. 5 Notre Dame women’s soccer (13-2-0, 6-2-0) on Sunday, Oct. 23. The obstacle is none other than Wake Forest (9-5-2, 3-5-0). First touch is set for 5 pm ET on ACCNX.

The Irish are looking for their sixth win in a row and to stay atop the ACC leaderboard. Right now, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Florida State are all tied for first with a 6-2 record.

Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Wake Forest, 9-2-1, and are unblemished in Winston-Salem at 3-0.

NCAA SOCCER COMMITTEE TOP-10

The NCAA women’s soccer committee revelaed 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 17th 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 have only allowed 37 shots on goal over 15 games – which equates to a stout 2.5 SOG per game. Even shots in general, opponents are averaging just 7.1 against the Irish. 

6 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 10 shutouts on the year.Their shutout percentage of 0.667 ranks 4th in the country.

Notre Dame’s GAA of 0.533 ranks 11th in the country and 1st in the ACC. 

Mackenzie Wood in particular has been stellar in net down the stretch, as her 0.300 GAA leads the entire country. Wood has only allowed 3 goals in 10 games. Furthermore, she has collected 8 shutouts, including 6 straight. Her 8 shutouts rank 16th in the nation and lead the ACC. 

SEARCH FOR SIX

During the current five-game win streak, Notre Dame has outscored its opposition 13-0. 

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

SHOTS ON SHOTS

The importance of scoring first? Well, the Irish are 13-0 and undefeated when doing so. Irish are also 8-0 when leading at the half. 

Notre Dame is averaging 8.8 shots on goal per game, which ranks 13th nationally (1st in ACC). Overall, the Irish are averaging 19.4 shots per game, which ranks 9th nationally (1st in the ACC).

In comparison, shots on goal differential sits at 132-37 (8.8-2.5). 

All those shots have led to 36 goals on the year, which ranks 22nd in the nation, while the scoring offense (2.4) ranks 18th. Notre Dame has piled up 99 total points which ranks 28th in the country.   

Olivia Wingate —   22nd goals per game, 1st in ACC (0.67) // 15th in points per game, 2nd in ACC (1.67) // 4th in SOG per game, 1st in ACC (2.5) // 19th in total goals, 1st in ACC (10) // 16th in total points, 1st in ACC (25).

Maddie Mercado — 13th in game-winning goals, 1st in ACC (4).

Mackenzie Wood — 1st in GAA (.300) // 16th in shutouts, 1st in ACC (8) // 16th in save percentage, 1st in ACC (0.870).

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 season’s end — No. 12 Duke in the home finale on Oct. 27. 

ACC – 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 6-2 and tied for first place alongside North Carolina and Florida State.

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 first title game. A top-two seed and a bye would be a great start. 

OFFENSIVE SPARKPLUGS 

Notre Dame has tallied a 36-8 goal aggregate over the 2022 season. Out of the 36 goals – it’s come from 9 different players: Wingate (10), Mercado (8), Albert (6), 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).

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). 

Now add in Albert and Van Zanten to complete the four-headed monster that is the Irish attack. As a foursome, they have contributed 72 percent of the team’s points. 

Van Zanten has scored 5 times over the last 10 games, which included an absolute missile from downtown at Louisville. 

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

— ND —