| 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 |
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Notre Dame women’s soccer team (2-0-1), fresh off an overtime victory at Wisconsin, looks to remain unbeaten on the young season, when the Irish complete the roadtrip with a Sunday battle at Marquette (1-0-0). That matchup will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET and streamed on FloFC.
DYNAMIC DUO
Notre Dame’s two forwards plan on wreaking plenty of havoc on opposing defenses this season and their unique skillsets complement each other very well.
First, there’s Fisher, who is a two-time All-ACC selection. She enters Sunday’s game with 18 career goals and nine career assists. The graduate student is looking to top her 2019 season total of six goals and she’s off to a great start.
Fisher scored in the season opener against Bowling Green before converting the game-winning penalty in overtime at Wisconsin – on her birthday no less.
Then there’s Wingate, with the freedom to explore space and use her speed up top. “She’s one of the fastest kids in the country in my opinion,” said Coach Norman. That speed was on display in the opening minutes against Indiana – when she outran three Hoosier defenders and almost got the Irish on the board
In the season opener, Wingate got the offense rolling in the eighth minute. A nice give-and-go with Mercado at the top of the 18-yard box, led to a rocket in the upper left corner. It marked Wingate’s sixth career goal. Wingate then used her speed in the eighth minute at Wisconsin, darting down the left side to dish the assist to Korbin Albert.
FRESHMAN STARTING – NO. 2 KORBIN ALBERT
One rookie by the name of Korbin Albert was able to crack the starting lineup and she’s made an immediate impact, already owning one goal and one assist.
In the opener, Albert recorded her first career assist and point when she delivered a beautiful low cross from the left side to a sprinting Bri Martinez on the far side of the six-yard box.
In game three, Albert converted her first career goal in key win at Wisconsin.
During a recent media call, Coach Norman said, “Korbin is a gifted attacking player that can do things on the ball that not too many players in this country can. She’s awesome in tight spots or 1v1 areas.”
During her prep career before ND, Albert was club teammates with current Irish forward Kiki Van Zanten. She also boasts a number of years of experience in the US Youth National Team Pool from 2015 to 2019. In 2019, she was called up to the U-17 WNT as they traveled to the Czech Republic for a four-team UEFA Development Tournament. There, she played alongside now Irish teammates Sophia Fisher and Maddie Mooney.
DEFENSE STARTS STRONG
With senior leadership in net in Mattie Interian and sophomore Eva Gaetino anchoring the back-line as center-back, the Irish defense has started the defense strong. Through three games, they’ve allowed just two goals – one being a free kick taken just outside the 18-yard box and the second being a penalty kick.
The Irish defense allowed just four shots on goal against Bowling Green, five at Wisconsin, and more impressively, zero against Indiana.
ABOUT MARQUETTE
Marquette will have just one game under its belt when Sunday’s contest rolls around. The Golden Eagles defeated Central Michigan 4-3 on Aug. 19, then had its Aug. 22 contest against Green Bay called off. Marquette scored four unanswered goals, all in the first half, then surrended three CMU goals in the second. Katrina Wetherell led the way with two goals.
The Golden Eagles return 24 letterwinners and nine total starters (goalkeepers Lauren Schill and Mikki Easter shared time in net) from last season’s squad that finished 6-4-0, 4-4-0 BIG EAST in the shortened spring season. Included in that group is each of the team’s top eight scorers from 2020, led by redshirt freshman forward Elsi Twombly, who led the roster with a trio of goals and eight points. She netted a goal in each of her first collegiate matches and was tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
Redshirt junior Katrina Wetherell was named All-BIG EAST Second Team and has started in 43 of her 46 career appearances.
— ND —