Aug. 29, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – No. 16/12 Texas Tech got goals from Hannah Devine and Janine Beckie 25 seconds apart in the opening moments of the second half to rally from an early deficit and defeat the No. 11/10 University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team, 2-1 on Friday night in the 22nd annual Notre Dame Invitational before a crowd of 2,603 fans at Alumni Stadium.
Notre Dame (2-1-0) fell for just the eighth time in 43 all-time matches contested during the Notre Dame Invitational (33-8-2 overall record). The Fighting Irish finished with a 13-11 edge in total shots, as well as an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 5-4 lead on corner kicks.
“I think we learned some great lessons (tonight),” Notre Dame head coach Theresa Romagnolo said. “Number one, we need to show up to compete for the full 90 minutes or longer if that’s what it takes. I think we came out in the second half a little slow and they came out and punished us. They brought some great energy, and something we have talked about is bringing urgency for however long it takes to get the job done.”
The Fighting Irish took the lead in the 15th minute, as junior defender/tri-captain Katie Naughton (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) converted a header inside the right post from six yards out off a corner kick from freshman defender Sabrina Flores (Livingston, N.J./Livingston). It was Naughton’s second goal of the season, and Flores’ first point of her college career, that gave Notre Dame a 1-0 advantage on just its second shot attempt of the match.
“It was a great service by Sabrina, we had some good numbers around the ball,” Romagnolo said. “Katie always does a great job of finding the ball, so I was super proud of that effort. She got us on the board and out to the early lead at 1-0. After that I thought we played pretty well, maybe could have taken some more chances going forward and pressured a little bit more in that first half.”
Notre Dame limited Texas Tech (2-0-0) to only one shot attempt over the final 25 minutes of the opening half, taking control of the possession battle in the Red Raiders end of the field. The Fighting Irish nearly made it 2-0 in the 35th minute, as a Flores corner found its way to sophomore midfielder Morgan Andrews (Milford, N.H./Milford) waiting 15 yards out. Andrews’ left-footed shot was corralled on the line by diving Red Raider goalkeeper Lauren Watson to thwart a Notre Dame scoring chance.
Texas Tech came roaring back less than one minute into the second half, as Devine scored on a flick header at 45:55, nodding home a left-side cross from Jaelene Hinkle. Moments later, Beckie scored the match-winner, picking up a loose ball and scoring from 18 yards out on a shot that slipped through the rain-soaked gloves of Notre Dame’s sophomore goalkeeper Kaela Little (Tulsa, Okla./Bishop Kelley), vaulting Texas Tech in front 2-1.
Notre Dame nearly countered in the 47th minute, as senior forward Lauren Bohaboy (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita) found space just outside the 18-yard box, sending an attempt just over the cross bar.
Little rose to the task to keep it a one-goal match in the 72nd minute, turning away two Texas Tech shots in close to stall the Red Raider surge. The rebound from in close appeared to deflect off a Notre Dame defender on its way toward the line before Little snagged it out of harm’s way.
A Texas Tech foul in the 79th minute set Notre Dame up in prime striking distance, and Andrews sent a curling 35-yard offering toward the left post that a diving Watson was able to grab. Notre Dame made a final effective run into the Red Raiders zone in the 85th minute, as Bohaboy sent a low line drive toward net that Watson controlled just in front of a waiting Andrews to shut the door once more.
The Fighting Irish will return to the pitch at 1:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, playing host to USC on the second day of the Notre Dame Invitational at Alumni Stadium. Texas Tech will take on Eastern Michigan in the day’s first contest at 11 a.m. (ET)
To purchase a season pass or single-match tickets for the 2014 Notre Dame women’s soccer season, call the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office at (574) 631-7356, visit the official Notre Dame athletics ticketing web site, UND.com/tickets or stop by the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office windows during normal business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday). Tickets also can be purchased at Alumni Stadium on match days.
For more information on the Fighting Irish women’s soccer program, follow Notre Dame on Twitter (@NDsoccernews or @NDSoccer), like the Fighting Irish on Facebook (facebook.com/NDWomenSoccer) or sign up for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the main page at UND.com.
–ND–
Texas Tech 2, Notre Dame 1
Aug. 29, 2014
Notre Dame Invitational – Game 2
Notre Dame, Ind. (Alumni Stadium)
Texas Tech 0 2 – 2
Notre Dame 1 0 — 1
ND 1.Katie Naughton 2 (Sabrina Flores) 14:26. TTU 1. Hannah Devine 2 (Jaelene Hinkle) 45:55. TTU 2. Janine Beckie 2 (-) 46:20.
Total Shots:TTU 11 (3-8), ND 13 (5-8)
Shots on Goal: TTU 6 (1-5), ND 8 (3-5)
Saves: TTU 7 (Lauren Watson 7 in 90:00), ND 4 (Kaela Little 4 in 90:00)
Corner Kicks: TTU 4 (1-3), ND 5 (2-3)
Fouls: TTU 13 (5-8), ND 11 (6-5)
Yellow Card:Taylor Klawunder(ND, 66:37)
Offsides: TTU 2, ND 0
Attendance:2,603
Records: TTU 2-0-0, ND 2-1-0
Next for ND: Vs. USC, 1:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday at Alumni Stadium