BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The No. 11 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (4-1-2) decisively wrapped up its non-conference portion of the schedule on Sunday with a 3-0 road victory at Bowling Green (2-4-0). It marked their second shutout victory of the year.
Maddie Mercado picked up her second game-winner of the season and third goal overall. Meanwhile, Eva Gaetino earned her first assist of the year.
Freshman Meg Mrowicki started in the second half and rewarded Coach Norman with a goal in the 54th minute. Leah Klenke registered her third assist on the season, which now leads all Irish players.
The third and final goal of the match came from graduate Kristina Lynch, her second of the season.
Mercado, Gaetino and Mrowicki now all lead the team with seven points apiece.
Speaking of freshmen getting plenty of experience in this non-conference slate, Atlee Olofson made her first collegiate start. She earned her first shutout as well, tallying two saves along the way.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish dictated most of the first-half play, recording 14 shots to the Falcons’ six. Shots on goal were 4-1 in Notre Dame’s favor as well. The one SOG in which Bowling Green had, took a tremendous save from Atlee Olofson. The freshman, who made her first collegiate start, came up big off of a Notre Dame turnover in their defensive third.
Morgan Roy pushed the tempo and led in shot attempts with five in the half. The freshman had one that just soared over the crossbar. Kiki Van Zanten almost registered her first non-PK goal of the season early in the first half off of a header from a cross from the left side. Furthermore, Leah Klenke had a point-blank shot on the left-hand side of the six-yard box, but Bowling Green’s keeper made a tremendous kick save to keep the Irish off the board.
However, Mercado finally pushed the Irish through in the 35th minute and did so from distance. Gathering the ball from Gaetino in the middle of the field, Mercado dribbled into the offensive third and struck a missile. The ball soared over the keeper and was tucked perfectly underneath the crossbar.
Mercado also kickstarted the second goal that arrived in the 54th minute. Gathering the loose ball in the offensive third, Mercado dished to the left side. Klenke then did what she does best and delivered a perfect cross which found Mrowick’s head and then the corner of the net.
Mercado almost had herself a brace in the 77th minute. Kristina Lynch hit a lob cross to Mercado in the middle of the box but her volley just soared over the crossbar. Moments later, Van Zanten distributed to a sprinting Lynch down the left side who passed back to Van Zanten – she then hit a shot with her left foot which was saved by the keeper.
The Irish got one more in the 83rd minute. Lynch was rewarded with her stellar second-half play with her second goal of the season. Lynch fired a shot right at the keeper which knocked her off her feet. Lynch then followed her shot and put the ball away, wrapping the Irish 3-0 victory.
UP NEXT
The Irish open up ACC play in a special Friday night Alumni Weekend game. Notre Dame will host Wake Forest at 7 p.m. ET inside Alumni Stadium, while also welcoming back ‘98 alum Kate Markgraf.
– ND –