SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It was Notre Dame women’s soccer’s second straight top-15 opponent at home, but the outcome on Sunday was very different. The No. 14 Fighting Irish looked dominant in their 4-0 victory over No. 13 TCU, improving to 2-1-0 on the young season.
Freshman Izzy Engle has entered her name into the conversation of breakout freshman star of 2024. After recording the first freshman hat trick in program history since 2008 in Notre Dame’s win at Samford, Engle delighted the home crowd with two spectacular goals against the Horned Frogs. Both goals were must-see performances.
Engle is now tied for most goals scored in the country with five. All of which have been scored in the last two games.
Engle also got an uncredited assist in the 85th minute, earning an Irish penalty kick. Junior Laney Matriano stepped up and drove it home for her first goal of the season and second of her career.
Speaking of freshmen standouts, Lily Joseph netted her first collegiate goal in the first half off a beautiful Morgan Roy corner kick.
Sophomore Charlie Codd delivered the assist on the first Engle goal, making it 3-for-3 in games this season with an assist. Reagan Pauwels earned her first point with the Irish with the assist on the second.
Fellow sophomore Atlee Olofson started in net and recorded her second consecutive shutout. Olofson notched three saves on the afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 15th minute, Codd sent a tremendous deep ball behind the TCU backline. Engle used her speed, then flashed her finesse when she shot the ball from just outside the 18-yard box on the right side.
Izzy Engle is ⚡️
Instant game changer as the freshman subs in and scores in the 15th minute.
ND 1 – TCU 0
Catch the match on @ACCNetworkExtra #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/9GRcn5XCey
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) August 25, 2024
Goal number two arrived in the 42nd minute, marking Notre Dame’s first set-piece goal of the season. A Roy corner kick found Joseph right in the middle of the box. Joseph hit a right-foot volley then soared to the left post, off a defender and in.
Morgan Roy 🤝 Lily Joseph
ND 2 – TCU 0 | 42'
Catch the 2nd half on @ACCNetworkExtra #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/i6mk4pgLPT
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) August 25, 2024
Thus, the Irish took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Engle then got the crowd of 705 on their feet in the 48th minute when she beat her defender 1-on-1 on the left side of the box and bent her shot into the side netting.
Absolute filthiness from @IzzyEngle 🤯
ND 3 – TCU 0 | 48'
Catch the 2nd half on @ACCNetworkExtra #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/fGVrfSsJR3
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) August 25, 2024
In the 85th minute, it looked like a potential second consecutive hat trick could be on the table. Engle, who just subbed back into the match, took the ball into the TCU box and earned a penalty. However, Coach Norman gave captain Laney Matriano the chance and she delivered for the final 4-0 score.
Coach Norman started two freshmen (Abby Mills and Abby Gemma) and senior captain Sophia Fisher in the three-player backline today. The trio helped Olofson earn the shutout and only allowed three shots on goal.
UP NEXT
Next week will be life on the road for the Irish in the Midwest. First, Notre Dame will travel to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 29. Then, the Irish head south to end the week at Butler on Sunday, Sept. 1 – also a 7 p.m. first touch.
— ND –