NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Four months and one day since they last played in the 2020-21 season, the University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team is back in action this week. The Irish begin the second half of the season with a road match against the Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday afternoon. First touch is set for 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Know the Opponent: Cincinnati Bearcats
- Notre Dame will renew acquaintances with the Cincinnati Bearcats, a common opponent back in the BIG EAST days for both schools.
- Notre Dame and Cincinnati will meet for the 17th time in program history and the Irish hold a 14-1-1 record over the Bearcats, including a 5-0-1 mark in games in Cincinnati.
- The last time these two teams played, the Irish came away with a 2-1 win on Aug. 30, 2018.
- Olivia Wingate scored the equalizer in the 65th minute to level the game at 1-1 and then Karin Muya scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute.
- Thursday’s game will be Notre Dame’s first visit to Cincinnati since Sept. 18, 2011 when the Irish defeated the Bearcats 4-1.
- Cincinnati enters the game with a 1-1 record this season with all their games coming in the spring.
- They defeated Tulsa 3-0 in their most recent game on March 7 after opening the season with a 1-0 loss to UCF.
Nothing Like an Irish Spring
- In a season unlike any other, the Irish will continue the season into the spring as their spring slate begins in Cincinnati on Thursday.
- The Irish are set to play six games this fall against five different teams with five of the six matchups occuring on the road.
- Notre Dame has five matchups against Big 12 opponents along with Thursday’s tilt against American Athletic foe Cincinnati.
- The lone home match will be the first of two meetings against Missouri.
- It will be the Irish Senior Day where all eight seniors will be honored prior to the game.
- Two of Notre Dame’s opponents are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll in TCU (No. 4) and Oklahoma State (No. 15).
Welcome to the Irish
- With the season extended into the spring, the Irish will add a member to the team early in freshman midfielder Sophia Fisher.
- She hails from Scottsdale, AZ and has a number of appearances with the US women’s national team.
- She has played for the U-17 team in 2019 along with the U15 team in 2017 and 2018 and the U14 in 2016.
- She was named the 2019 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Best XI and the 2018 Girls Development Academy Playoff Best XI.
- Fisher played club with the San Jose Earthquakes and SC Del Sol.
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