SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The #17 Fighting Irish hosted the #3 Syracuse Orange in a Saturday night matchup. Notre Dame fought until the final whistle sending the game to overtime, but ultimately fell to Syracuse 17-16.
Madison Ahern tied her career high with six goals and led the team. Kasey Choma was right behind her with five goals on the night.
Choma led the team with six draw controls while Diana Kelly had four. Three Irish, Ahern, Kelly, and Mary Kelly Doherty each had two caused turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame came out ready to play when they opened the game with the first goal on a free position attempt from Madison Mote. Syracuse responded with three straight goals, getting in front 3-1.The Orange continued adding to their tally with three more goals in the quarter. With only four seconds left on the shot clock and three minutes on the game clock, Mary Kelly Doherty found the back of the net to give the Irish two goals ending the quarter trailing 6-2.
The second quarter opened with the Irish fighting back and scoring on two free position attempts from Ahern and Choma bringing the score to 6-4. At nine minutes remaining in the quarter Ahern had another free position attempt that she converted on to bring the Irish within one, 6-5. The Irish and Orange traded points the rest of the quarter, with goals from Ahern and Choma, going into halftime with the Irish trailing 10-8.
The third quarter opened with two goals from Syracuse to then have the Irish respond with a goal from Ahern. The Orange kept their lead when they added two more goals increasing their lead 14-9.
The fourth quarter opened with dominating goals from Jackie Wolak and Kasey Choma to cut into the Orange lead, 14-11. Syracuse tallied one more goal before Choma and Ahern responded with goals of their own bringing the score to 15-13. The Orange scored with six minutes remaining in the game but then the Irish fought back and Bridget Deehan had a massive stop on a free position attempt with four and a half minutes left. Late in the quarter the Irish would put it in the back of the net from Choma for a one goal differential 16-15. A free position goal from Doherty would be the equalizer the Irish would need to send the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, the Orange scored first, immediately ending the period with a final score of 17-16.
The Irish take a week off of games but stay at home when they host Virginia on March 6. Live stats will be available and the contest will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
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