SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 13 Notre Dame women’s soccer squad was back at full strength post U20 World Cup and back at home for the first time in a couple of weeks, yet did not find the result they hoped for on Thursday night against NC State.
The Fighting Irish (7-1-2, 1-0-2) dominated the possession, over 60 percent to be exact, and outshot the Wolfpack (3-6-2, 0-2-1), 20-4, including a 9-1 shots on goal advantage.
However, that one SOG attempt from NC State found the back of the net and the Irish had to rally in the 2nd half to earn the 1-1 tie. Notre Dame had several chances in the second half for the game-winner, the closest being Laney Matriano’s shot off the left post in the 80th minute.
Senior Sophia Fisher scored Notre Dame’s lone goal of the match, marking her first of the season and seventh of her career. Matriano delivered a perfect corner kick right to Fisher’s head on the far post.
Matriano ➡️ Fisher. ND's first corner kick goal of the season. #GoIrish ☘️ @ACCNetworkExtra pic.twitter.com/rjwv64NNrl
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) September 27, 2024
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame owned 61 percent of the possession in the first half and outshot NC State 11-2. However, at halftime, the scoreboard said 1-0 in favor of the Wolfpack.
In the 27th minute, NC State earned a corner kick and scored directly off of it. The Wolfpack’s Taylor Chism was positioned on the far post and hit a direct header in. It marked the first goal scored on goalkeeper Atlee Olofson this season.
The second half featured a similar script. The Irish dominated possession and kept the ball in NC State’s half of the field, but just couldn’t connect in the attacking third.
Leah Klenke had the first good look in the 62nd minute. The junior stepped up in the middle of the field (about 25 yards out) and ripped a shot that sailed just over the crossbar near the upper-right 90.
In the 72nd minute the Irish answer finally arrived and it was their first corner kick goal of the season. It was Laney Matriano directly to the head of the Sophia Fisher. It marked Matriano’s first assist of the season.
A flurry of chances occurred around the 80th minute. Engle blew by her defender and hit a shot that richoeted off a defender and almost in. Moments later, Matriano hit a missile that bounced off the left post and Hodsden’s rebound shot went high.
UP NEXT
If you weren’t at Alumni tonight to see your Irish then you’ll have to wait a couple of more weeks to see them again at home. Next week, Notre Dame has just one match – at Syracuse, on Saturday, Oct 5, at 1 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
— ND –