ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 16 Notre Dame (8-4-1) never trailed in a 2-1 victory over No. 18 Michigan (9-2-2) on Tuesday evening. The Irish have now recorded five wins over ranked opponents in the 2018 season.
Seniors Thomas Ueland and Sean MacLeod were the goal scorers for the Irish, each finding the back of the net for the fourth time this season. The Notre Dame defense turned in another industrious performance, holding the opposition to one or no goals for the 10th time in 13 outings this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish did not wait line to get on the scoreboard, as the visitors took an early lead in the 10th minute. Notre Dame’s Sean Dedrick sent a dangerous throw-in into the box, which Jack Lynn flicked on to Ueland who finished beautifully with his left foot on his first touch past the Michigan keeper to put the Irish on top 1-0.
After the goal the Wolverine attack put the Irish under pressure for the rest of the first half but the Irish defense held strong, shutting out Michigan in the opening 45 minutes to take a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Michigan leveled the match in the 57th minute, as Jack Hallahan unleashed a shot from the top of the box sending it into the bottom right corner of the goal to make the score 1-1.
After the Wolverine goal the Irish settled down and had a good spell of possession, putting the Michigan defense under duress. Aiden McFadden broke into the box, taking on and beating a Wolverine defender before being taken down by a Michigan center back to set up a penalty kick.
For the second time in three matches, MacLeod stepped up to the spot and slotted a cool finish past the Michigan keeper to put the Irish back in front at 2-1 in the 68th minute.
After taking the lead the Irish put on a clinic in how to see a game out with a one-goal lead, as Notre Dame stifled the Michigan attack in the final minutes to secure the 2-1 victory.
HEAD COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
“I am proud of the group. We knew Michigan was a dynamic team in the attack and I thought overall we contained them well. You knew it would be a challenge playing away from home, but I am proud of the team and the grit they displayed to get this result.”
STAT OF THE MATCH
After not recording a goal in his Notre Dame career, senior Sean MacLeod has scored a goal in each of the last four matches. Tonight’s finish from the spot in the 68th minute was the match winner, marking the second time this season a spot kick from the forward gave the Irish a victory.
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- Notre Dame improves to 5-4-0 against ranked opponents this season.
- The Irish improve to 13-2-3 against Michigan in the all-time series.
- Notre Dame has held the opposition scoreless in the first half in 12 of 13 matches this season.
- The Irish are 5-1-0 in matches away from Alumni Stadium this season.
- Eleven of Notre Dame’s 24 goals this season have come from set pieces.
- Ueland ranks tied second on the Irish in goals with four and has 12 goals in his career.
- With the assist on Ueland’s strike, Lynn has two this season, each coming in the last three matches.
- With a goal and assist, MacLeod posted a career-high three points in the match.
- MacLeod scored his fourth goal of the season and career and has now found the back of the net in four straight matches. The senior is tied for second on the team in goals in 2018.
- Goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull improves to 3-0-0 on the season and in his career.
UP NEXT
The Irish return to Alumni Stadium for their regular season home finale against Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 19. The match will air live on ACC Network Extra via the WatchESPN app.
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