#13 Irish Rally Down Two Goals To Earn 2-2 Tie At Boston College

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – One can never predict the script when it comes to soccer in the ACC. For the No. 13 Notre Dame women’s soccer team on Thursday night, it was a nail-biter, frustration, jubilation and a learning moment all wrapped up into a 2-2 tie at Boston College. 

It was a match that was mostly dictated by the Fighting Irish (6-1-1, 0-0-1), yet found themselves in a 2-0 hole 35 minutes into the match. In fact, both of Boston College’s (7-1-1, 0-0-1) goals were scored 61-seconds apart. 

The Irish hero of the night was none other than freshman Ellie Hodsden. The same Hodsden who just returned from injury and scored in her first collegiate debut match versus Marquette.

Hodsden did exactly what she did against Marquette, which was sub into the first half with less than 12 minutes left and made an impact, scoring in the 37th minute. 

The Irish had their chances in the second half, outshooting the Eagles 27-8 overall. They even had a late penalty kick decision reversed. 

Just when things were looking bleak, Reagan Pauwels fired in a cross and found the head of Hodsden who emphatically put it away for the brace in the 88th minute. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a back-and-forth first half with a slight edge to the Irish, owning a 7-3 shots on goal advantage at the midway point. Yet, the scoreboard showed a different story at halftime with Notre Dame down 2-1. 

The Fighting Irish were pushing and counter attacking and yet in a blink of an eye, 61 seconds to be exact, they were down 2-0. 

In the 34th minute, Boston College’s Ava Lung ripped a shot from distance. The ball hit off the crossbar, went straight down, hit off the back of Sonoma Kasica who dove earlier and then richoceted in. 

A minute later, Lung recorded a first half brace and stunned a Irish squad who hadn’t given a goal in six straight matches. 

What was great to see was though was the Notre Dame response. Just 2.5 minutes later, Ellie Hodsden got one back. The freshman took advantage of a defensive turnover, beat the keeper on the right hand side, then hit a tough angle shot which found the back of the net. 

It marked the second straight game in which Hodsden subbed into the final 12 minutes of the first half and made an impact by scoring. 

Then with 4.5 minutes left until half, Notre Dame sent a free kick deep into BC’s box and almost made it a 2-2 game. Fisher headed it back to the middle where it landed at the feet of Abby Mills at the six-yard box. Mills took a shot, but it was right down the middle where the keeper was standing for the save.

The second half was predominantly Irish, but the equalizer alluded them. Morgan Roy, Lily Joseph and Ellie Hodsden all had great looks in the half and missed by the most narrow of margins. 

Fast forward to the 86th minute and Grace Restovich was shoved from behind in the box and the referee called for the penalty kick. Upon review, the call was changed to a hand ball on Restovich. 

Despite all the adversity in the second half, the Irish kept pushing. Then the magic happened courtesy of Hodsden yet again. Reagan Pauwels crossed it from the left side and a perfect ball was sent right to Hodsden’s head. The ball found the back corner of the net and the game was tied with two minutes left. 

UP NEXT

The Irish don’t compete again for nine days, but it’ll be a major road test with No. 2 Virginia. That match will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX.

— ND –