| 3-seed Notre Dame (12-3-4) | NCAA Tournament 2nd & 3rd Rounds |
|---|---|
| Where: | Fayetteville, AR | Razorback Stadium |
| Watch: | ESPN+ |
| 2nd Rd Opponent: | 6-seed Memphis (19-1) |
| When: | Friday, Nov. 16 | 4 p.m. ET |
| 3rd Rd Opponent: | Pitt or Arkansas |
| When: | Sunday, Nov. 18 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Social: | NDWSOC Twitter NDWSOC Instagram |
BEST SEASON FOR LAST
Sammi Fisher is making the most of her graduate season, for it only took her one month of play to achieve her best year in an Irish uniform. She owns 10 goals to her name, topping her previous season high of six set in 2019.
Her 10 total goals rank fourth in the country and first in the ACC. In addition, her 0.91 goals per game rank ninth in the nation.
Yet, the impressive note lies in her game-winners. Four of Fisher’s goals are game-winners, which ranks her second in the country. Fisher has scored game-winners against Syracuse, Brown, Wisconsin and Bowling Green.
Her 21 total points rank 12th nationally and top all ACC players.
RECOGNITION
A three-goal week with wins over Miami and Boston College led Sammi Fisher to her first career ACC Offensive Player of the Week Award. With two goals this past Sunday against BC, it marked Fisher’s second brace of the season.
IN THE RANKINGS
After achieving a top-25 ranking from Top Drawer Soccer heading into ACC play, the Irish continue to climb the charts. This week they check in at No. 20, marking their highest ranking since the start of the 2018 season when they were No. 14.
In the updated Women’s Soccer RPI, the Irish moved up to No. 16. They are 2-0 against top-25 RPI squads.
WIN STREAK
With the win over Boston College, Notre Dame has been the victors of five straight. During the win streak, the Irish have outscored their opposition, 23-2. Furthermore, Notre Dame has outshot its opponents 103-21.
In addition, there have been nine different goal scorers during said span: Maddie Mercado, Kiki Van Zanten, Sammi Fisher, Sophia Fisher, Olivia Wingate, Kaylie Ronan, Katie Coyle, Brooke VanDyck, Korbin Albert
BEST START
The Irish are now 9-1-1 on the year, marking Coach Norman’s best start at the helm of the Irish.
Overall, it’s their best start since 2013, when they also started 9-1-1 through 11 games before dropping four straight in ACC play.
Furthermore, this year also marks the first time Notre Dame has started ACC play with three straight wins, marking their best start there as well.
FLEXING THE OFFENSIVE MUSCLE
Notre Dame has scored 32 goals which rank second in the ACC and seventh in the nation. Their 32 goals are already more than the last two years (2019 – 31 ; 2018 – 24) and the most in the Coach Norman era. In addition, ND’s 87 total points rank 14th in the country.
A BUZZER BEATER AND RARE ASSIST
Notre Dame recorded the rarest of buzzer beaters on Sept. 26 in the 4-1 win over Boston College. With 10 seconds left, goalkeeper Ashley Naylor punted the ball all the way over the Eagles defensive line to a sprinting Sammi Fisher. The graduate student needed only a few touches in the box before putting the ball into the back of the net with two seconds left, giving Naylor her first career assist.
THREAT OFF THE BENCH
If there were a 12th woman award similar to sixth woman in basketball, it would go to junior midfielder Maddie Mercado. The San Diego native is tied for the second most points on the squad with 11 – comprised of four goals and three assists. Mercado is on quite the hot streak, tallying three points at Miami (one goal, one assist all within a five-minute span), then adding a penalty-kick goal against Boston College.
Prior, Mercado notched the first brace of her career against Detroit Mercy.
— ND —