NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The No. 10-ranked Fighting Irish suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of No. 13 Clemson in the ACC opener on Friday evening in Alumni Stadium by a final score of 4-2.
Notre Dame’s two goals came from Felicien Dumas (22’) and Jack Lynn (61’).
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time this season the Irish trailed in a match, as Clemson’s Robbie Robinson scored the opener in the sixth minute. After the opening 15 minutes of play the Irish settled in and began to put pressure on the Clemson backline. Notre Dame leveled the match at 1-1 in the 22nd minute off a free kick goal from Felicien Dumas, his second of the season.
The Tigers managed to regain the lead before the end of the first half, as a Kimarni Smith volley gave the visitors the lead heading into the break at 2-1.
Unfortunately for the Irish, Clemson doubled its lead less than three minutes into the second half, as Smith scored his second of the night in the 48th minute to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage.
Clemson managed to tack on a fourth goal in the 61st minute before the Irish got one back. Less than a minute after the Tigers goal Lynn unleashed a missile that struck the crossbar and bounced into the goal to make the score 4-2, which was the final score of the evening.
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE MATCH
Lynn has scored a goal in each of the first four matches of the season to open the 2019 campaign.
HEAD COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the team’s performance…
“Obviously, we are disappointed with the result. We came out not as intense and sharp as we should have. Clemson was a little fortunate with the first goal but they started the game well and were good at getting the ball into our half. We responded well to get the goal back and then a clearance happened to fall to one of their guys in the box which put us behind.
“Then we started the half with a confusing moment for their third goal but credit to their player for finishing it. I am proud of the group for fighting to the last minute but we weren’t sharp enough on the night and did not start with enough intensity.”
NOTES OF THE MATCH
- Notre Dame has scored a combined 10 goals over its first four matches of the season.
- Lynn has already surpassed his season goal total from last season (three) with four goals through just four matches.
UP NEXT
The Irish travel to Bloomington to write the next chapter in the intrastate rivalry against the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The game will stream live on BTN+.
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