No. 17 Irish Drop 2-1 Battle at No. 2 Virginia

All three goals came after the 82nd-minute

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – It was a back-and-forth showdown at Klockner Stadium on Sunday as the No. 17 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (12-2-1, 6-1-0) lost a hard-fought 2-1 affair at No. 2 Virginia (13-1-1, 6-0-1).

It was a scoreless battle through 82 minutes, as the Irish built momentum in the second half with several near chances. Yet, Virginia found the back of the net twice in 37 seconds shortly after.

Despite that, the Irish fought on and received a goal from Korbin Albert in the 85th-minute, marking the freshman’s eighth of the season. 

“I thought we did a lot of really good stuff today but unfortunately came up short. I give a lot of credit to Virginia as they are a fantastic team but I’m very proud of the way we performed today,” Doug & Lisa Jones Notre Dame head coach Nate Norman said. 

How It Happened

The Irish were defensively stuck in a bit in the first half but they certainly didn’t break, keeping the Cavaliers off the scoreboard for the first half.

Notre Dame was outshot 9-3 in the half, but its three shots were all close opportunities, starting with Sammi Fisher’s near miss in the ninth minute. After the graduate student picked up a turnover near the Virginia box, she hit a dart that sailed over the keeper and just over the crossbar as well. 

In the 31st-minute, Bri Martinez stole the ball from a Virginia midfielder then broke out on the counter attack. She found Wingate down in the middle who rifled off a shot near the top of the box, but the shot was directed right at the keeper. 

Next, the Irish came out on the front foot to start the second half. Sammi Fisher had a dart from about 22 yards out in the 50th-minute in which Virginia keeper Laurel Ivory had to make a leaping save. Then just moments later, Kati Druzina had a good look on goal but her shot was directed right at the keeper. 

Though no shots were recorded, Notre Dame had its best chance all game just 10 minutes later, outnumbering the defense in the Cavaliers box, but just made one too many passes. 

Yet, despite the turn in momentum, Virginia played spoiler but scoring two goals in a 37-second span in the 82nd-minute. 

Despite the back-to-back blows, the Irish kept fighting as Korbin Albert got the Irish on the board in the 85th-minute with a perfectly placed goal in the upper-90. It marked her fourth in the last four games.

The Irish continued to press but time wasn’t on their side as the Cavaliers ran out the clock for the 2-1 victory.  

Up Next

The Irish continue its road gauntlet next week with No. 8 Duke on Oct. 21, then No. 3 North Carolina on Oct. 24. 

— ND —