NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Shake down the thunder took on a literal meaning for Notre Dame women’s soccer’s season opener on Thursday night. After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the early going against Bowling Green, lightning delayed the match from 7:33-9:58 p.m. However, the two-hour and 25-minute delay didn’t stop the Irish momentum, as they cruised to a 3-1 victory inside Alumni Stadium.
Notre Dame has not dropped a season opener at home since the 1999 season, improving to a 14-0-2 mark during that stretch. Overall in season openers (home or away), the Irish improve to 28-4-2.
Olivia Wingate, Sammi Fisher and Brianna Martinez all scored goals for the Irish. In fact, Fisher continued to her dominance in home openers, scoring a goal for the third consecutive year to kick off the home slate.
How It Happened
Notre Dame began the season on the front foot and captialized with a goal in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
Olivia Wingate and Maddie Mercado had some give and go passes from outside the box as Wingate broke towards the middle of the field. After taking a touch, Wingate sent a shot with pace that beat the keeper to the upper corner for the goal. It marked Wingate’s sixth career goal.
The Irish looked to double their lead later on in the first half. After taking a quick free kick pass up to Sammi Fisher, the graduate student launched a rocket that banged off the bar and out of play.
Moments later, Olivia Wingate broke into the attacking third and got around the final Falcons defender before putting a shot on goal. Lili Berg was able to get a hand of the shot and deflected it out of play to thwart the chance.
Lightning then disrupted play in the 27th minute, delaying the game for two hours and 25 minutes. Yet once play was finally restarted at 9:58 p.m., it took just two minutes for Fisher to bring down some thunder of her own.
Druzina darted a ball from the left side through the box and found Fisher on the far post who buried it back into the left corner. As a result, Fisher has now scored in three consecutive home openers (2019-21).
The third and final goal came from senior midfielder Bri Martinez in the 68th minute. Freshman Korbin Albert notched her first career assist and point when she hit a low cross which shot along the six-yard box line to a sprinting Martinez who finished it off.
Up Next
The Irish complete the opening weekend homestand by hosting the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday, Aug. 22. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. ET and will air live on ACC Network.
Notes
- Irish are 28-4-2 in season openers
- When looking at specifically home games to start the season, the Irish haven’t lost a game one inside Alumni since the 1999 season, going 14-0-2 in that span.
- Notre Dame is 2-0 all-time against Bowling Green
- Olivia Wingate recorded her sixth career goal when she scored in the eighth minute.
- Lightning delay lasted from 7:33 to 9:58 – so a 2:25 delay.
- Sophia Fisher scored two minutes into the restart, marking her 17th career goal.
- Fisher has now scored in three consecutive home openers.
- Bri Martinez notched her first career goal. Korbin Albert recorded her first career assist on the play.
— ND —