The Irish will add six players to a program that has earned a bid to eight straight NCAA Championship appearances. The six players come from a combined three states and two foreign countries (Illinois 2x, New Jersey, Ohio, Canada and Northern Ireland).
"I am excited to have this group of young men join our University and our team. They are a talented group who are committed to excellence and most importantly have the mentality that it takes to succeed at Notre Dame.
"The key for them now is to work hard to turn their potential into reality and to put all of their efforts into becoming their best. We are looking forward to welcoming them officially into our team this fall and can't wait to get started working with them on the field." - Head Coach Chad Riley
Notre Dame Class of 2024
- Defender Paddy Burns (Crumlin, Northern Ireland/Glenavon FC)
- Goalkeeper Bryan Dowd (Willow Springs, Illinois/FC United Developmental Academy)
- Midfielder Matthew McLaughlin (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Club Ohio)
- Midfielder Matthew Radivojsa (Oakville, Ontario/Fogo FC & Toronto FC Academy)
- Forward Daniel Russo (Jackson, New Jersey/Wall Cosmos & NY Red Bull Academy)
- Forward Alex Salvino (Western Springs, Illinois/FC United Developmental Academy)
PADDY BURNS
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"Notre Dame is the perfect combination of a really great academic school and a very strong soccer program. Additionally, as a proud Irish Catholic, the mission of Notre Dame appeals greatly to my own personal values – it really is the perfect fit for me!" - Paddy Burns
BURNS AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Crumlin, Northern Ireland
- High School: St. Malachy's College, Belfast
- Club Team: Glenavon FC
- Position: Defender
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Captained Northern Ireland's U18 squad
- Helped Northern Ireland's U18 squad lift the Centenary Shield
- Northern Ireland team that he captained won the Young Team of the Year award
- Scored a goal in a win over Germany at the U18 level
- Led school team to five Belfast Cups and two Northern Ireland Cups over seven years
- Captained his school team from 2012-19
- Was appointed as The Head Boy at St. Malachy's College
- Has earned academic excellence awards at the GSCE, AS and A' levels
- Served as the Student Body President
- Volunteers at charities such as Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues and Cancer Research UK
- Played on school's gaelic team for seven years
- Brother Bobby plays professionally for Hearts FC in the Scottish Premiership
BRYAN DOWD
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because its academic reputation is unparalleled, there's a strong sense of community and its soccer program is annually one of the best. There’s simply no other university in the country where I would want to be a student-athlete." - Bryan Dowd
DOWD AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Willow Springs, Illinois
- High School: Fenwick HS
- Club Team: FC United Development Academy & Chicago Fire Academy
- Position: Goalkeeper
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Ranked as the #3 goalkeeper from TopDrawer Soccer for the class of 2020 and #34 overall
- One of only 26 American born players invited to participate in the three “World Cup Cycle” U17 USMNT Training Camps
- Earned a spot on the preliminary roster for the US U17 men's national team roster for the FIFA U17 World Cup
- Played for Chicago FC United, of USL League Two and earned a clean sheet
- Earned the starting GK position all four years at the FC United Development Academy from 2016 to 2020
- Named the Most Valuable Goalkeeper at the Costa Rica Internacional Cup in June 2015
- Also a three-time First Team All-Conference and All-Area selection as a kicker on the Fenwick HS football team
- Member of National Honor Society & German Club and earned All-First Honors every semester at Fenwick
- Served as a student ambassador for Fenwick last three years of high school
MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because of the elite academics, top-level soccer and the importance of faith." - Matthew McLaughlin
MCLAUGHLIN AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio
- High School: Saint Ignatius
- Club Team: Club Ohio & Pennine
- Position: Midfielder
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- TopDrawer Soccer All-America selection
- First Team All-Ohio recognition
- Selected as team captain of Saint Ignatius
- Helped Saint Ignatius be named national champions twice in his prep career (2016 & 2019) after winning the state championship in each season
- Totaled 54 goals and 48 assists in high school career, leading team to a 75-6-9 record
- Finished his career ranked first in career assists, fourth in goals and fourth in points at Saint Ignatius
- Led Club Ohio to back-to-back state championships in 2018 & 2019
- Served as a Student Senate member for three years
MATTHEW RADIVOJSA
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because it is a unique institution that provides world-class academics and an exceptional soccer program. It provides me with an opportunity to better myself both academically and athletically, while also retaining a strong focus on personal growth." - Matthew Radivojsa
RADIVOJSA AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
- High School: Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic
- Club Team: Fogo FC & Toronto FC Academy
- Position: Midfielder
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Currently plays for Toronto FC's U19 team
- Played for the Canadian National Team at the 2017 CONCACAF Boys' U15 Championship and scored a goal against Costa Rica in a 3-1 win
- Attended a Serbia U17 National Team camp in May of 2019
- Fogo FC's top goal scorer with 17 goals in the U16 SAAC league and 14 goals in the U21 OSL Regional South League
- Served as Fogo FC's team captain for the 2018 season
- Achieved honor roll status every semester
- Volunteered at the Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors and the Summer Reading Club at the Oakville Public Library
DANIEL RUSSO
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because I wanted to further develop my athletic and academic career at one of the most prestigious schools in the country." - Daniel Russo
RUSSO AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Jackson, New Jersey
- High School: Jackson Memorial
- Club Team: Wall Cosmos & NY Red Bulls Academy
- Position: Forward
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Currently plays for NY Red Bulls' U19 team
- Regional All-America selection
- First Team All-State following his junior season
- Was selected as team captain and named team MVP at Jackson Memorial
- Led team to state championship appearance during junior season and three A-South titles
- Scored 22 goals and added 10 assists during junior season
- Achieved high honor roll status every year in high school and was a member of the Italian Honor Society
- Active in the community, participating in Jaguar Buddies (a group that helped special needs kids during school), the James Volpe Foundation and Clean Communities
ALEX SALVINO
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because of the world-class academics, faith-driven curriculum and elite soccer program. I know I will become a better student, person and player. I also believe the tradition and school spirit at Notre Dame is unlike any other university in the country." - Alex Salvino
SALVINO AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Western Springs, Illinois
- High School: Lyons Township
- Club Team: FC United Academy & Sockers FC Academy
- Position: Forward
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Trained with FC United PDL
- Scored over 30 goals in US Soccer Developmental Academy
- Led FC United Academy to club's first US Soccer Developmental Academy playoff appearance
- Member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society and achieved honor roll status every semester
- Member of Hinsdale Hospital Junior Board for four years
- Father, Tom Salvino, and grandfather, Al Salvino, wrestled at Notre Dame