SOUTH BEND, Ind. – What a week for the No. 12 Notre Dame women’s soccer team. They returned to Alumni for the first time in several weeks, hosted two top-25 ranked teams and then stood on business. After dominating No. 25 Cal, 5-2, on Thursday, the Fighting Irish (10-1-3, 4-0-3) came out flying against No. 6 Stanford on Sunday, scoring three goals in the second half for the 3-0 shutout.
The Irish not only earned their highest-ranked victory on the season but also improved to 4-1 against ranked opposition.
Freshman Izzy Engle got the ACC goal monkey off her back with a tremendous afternoon. She was first responsible for drawing the penalty kick in the 50th minute, which led to Notre Dame’s first goal. Leah Klenke scored the PK. Then Engle scored off a cross from Morgan Roy in the 66th minute.
Just 2.5 minutes later, Ellie Hodsden put the exclamation mark on the game. Lily Joseph and Ellie Ospeck connected on a great passing combo on the left side, as the latter crossed into Hodsden who tucked it away from the six-yard box.
Speaking of great weeks, how about Hodsen, who should be up for ACC/National POTW honors. Hodsden recorded a hat trick in the victory over Cal, then picked up her fourth goal in two games this afternoon. Hodsden now has eight goals on the season – second most on the team behind Engle’s 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first half the Irish came out flying, applying immense pressure to the Cardinal. Notre Dame recorded four near chances – all of which could have been goals.
First, in the 26th minute, Engle hit a bending left-footed shot that looked like it was curving in perfectly. However, Stanford’s goalkeeper had other plans with a tremendous diving save to her right. Minutes later, Joseph shot a screamer that missed just inches to the right of the far post.
Near the end of the first half, Leah Klenke took a direct kick that led to a loose ball in the box but no goal. Then the last good chance came from the head of Chayse Ying who directed a corner kick into the crossbar.
Despite the 0-0 halftime score, you felt the momentum on Notre Dame’s side to start the second half. The break finally came in the 50th minute after Engle dribbled into the box and was taken out from behind. Doug & Lisa Jones Family Head Coach Nate Norman called on Leah Klenke’s number to score the game-winner and she delivered. It marked her first goal of the 2024 season and fifth of her career.
Next, Morgan Roy arguably had the best heads-up play of the game in the 66th minute. Coach Norman often speaks about applying pressure and chaos in the opposing team’s half of the field. Roy pushed up and caused a turnover from Stanford’s left defensive back. Roy then crossed to Engle who one-timed it in.
Roy, who had two assists against Cal, earned her third of the week today and fifth of the season.
Then it went all downhill for Stanford and all up for the Irish in the next couple of minutes. Stanford went down to 10 players after a red card, and then Hodsden supplied the finishing touches on the game with the third goal.
Ospeck and Joseph both registered assists on the play. Joseph recorded four points on the week and Ospeck had three. Both were tremendous contributors in ND’s best week of the season.
Freshman Sonoma Kasica started in net and improved to 6-1-2 on the year. She earned her sixth shutout. As a team, Notre Dame has recorded 10 shutouts in 14 games.
UP NEXT
You’d think the schedule would get easier after playing the No. 6 team in the country, but this is ACC women’s soccer. Up next, the Irish travel to No. 1 Duke on Thursday, Oct. 24. That match will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
— ND –