CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time in the series rivalry, the Notre Dame women’s soccer program has earned back-to-back wins against Virginia. With a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon, the No. 16 Fighting Irish earned their second ever win in Charlottesville (first came in the 2015 season) and second ranked victory on the season as well.
Notre Dame injected its Canadian reinforcements, Clare Logan and Annabelle Chukwu, into the starting XI, fresh off their return trip from the U20 World Cup in Colombia. Both were difference makers on Sunday, with Chukwu netting the game-winner in the 47th minute.
Today was just Chukwu’s third game in an Irish uniform and yet her second goal in the 2024 season. Fellow freshman Grace Restovich earned the assist on the play, her team-leading seventh of the season. Restovich entered Sunday’s match ranked third in the nation in total assists.
That now means 22 of the team’s 26 goals on the year have been scored by freshmen.
GOOOAAALLLLLL!!!
Welcome back @AnnabelleChukwu!
The freshman delivers in the 47th minute.
ND 1 – UVA 0 | @ACCNetworkExtra #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/Nt26iRsPGZ
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) September 22, 2024
Sonoma Kasica started in net for Notre Dame and was another standout in the match. The freshman earned fours saves in the shutout, which included a lead-preserving dive in the 61st minute.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia pressured Notre Dame early and was on the front foot. At one point, the shot differential was 9-0 in favor of the Cavaliers. Then 15-20 minutes into the half, the Irish began to build momentum and record some great chances of their own.
Izzy Engle led Notre Dame with four shots in the first half. Annabelle Chukwu, who received the starting nod up top, also released a missile of a right-footed shot, forcing a tremendous save from the UVA keeper.
The best look of the half came from midfielder Sophia Fisher who subbed in the match in the 26th minute. Eight minutes later Fisher ripped a shot from way outside the box which soared over the keeper but bounced off the middle of the crossbar.
Virginia went into halftime with an 11-8 shots advantage, but Notre Dame was up 4-2 in the shots-on-goal category.
Then in the 47th minute, lightning struck, courtesy of Chukwu. The play started with a perfect through ball slotted by Grace Restovich into the left side of the box. Next, Chukwu cut it to her right foot which gave her enough space to punch the ball into the side for the clinical finish.
Kasica came up huge in the 61st minute when the Cavaliers snuck behind the Irish backline. UVA’s Meredith McDermott ripped a shot to the upper right frame but Kasica made a diving save to preserve the lead.
The Irish backline of Abby Mills, Abby Gemma, and Logan, plus Laney Matriano at the six, continued to shut down any UVA chances in the second half. When the clock hit zero it marked Notre Dame’s seventh shutout of the season.
UP NEXT
It’s another one-game week for the Irish, and they finally get to return to Alumni Stadium. Notre Dame will host NC State on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on ACCNX.
— ND –