SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s soccer announced its 2023 season schedule on Tuesday, just three days before the full team arrives back on campus for preseason camp.
The Fighting Irish are looking to build off a momentous 2022 campaign that saw them come one win shy of a College Cup appearance. Ultimately, the Irish finished 17-3-3, secured their first NCAA quarterfinal appearance since 2012, earned their first NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed since 2008 and finished the season ranked No. 5 in the country.
The Irish will play a total of 10 NCAA Tournament teams (from a season ago) during the 2023 regular season – three non-conference, seven in the ACC slate.
From the non-conference – Milwaukee – a team that claimed its seventh Horizon League regular-season championship in the past eight years then won its conference tournament title as well to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth year in a row.
Then there’s the defending Big Ten regular season champ, Michigan State. The Spartans reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, ending the year with a 17-3-3 record.
And of course, Arkansas, whom the Irish will want to seek revenge upon after dropping a 3-2 decision in the third round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament in Fayetteville. In 2022, the Razorbacks went 13-4-5 and also fell one win shy of reaching the College Cup.
Next, there’s conference play – as the ACC continues to be the dominant conference in women’s soccer, rated No. 1 in the RPI. Every game a battle in the ACC, and the obvious challenge for sure – back-to-back road games with 2022 College Cup participants – at Florida State followed by at North Carolina. Both teams left a sour taste in Notre Dame’s mouth towards the end of the 2022 season. The Irish, who rolled to a 4-0 shutout over Florida State in the regular season, later tied the Seminoles 3-3 in the ACC Tournament Semifinal, only to not advance due to a penalty shootout. And of course the rematch with the Tar Heels from the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament.
With 10 regular contests on the schedule, the Irish look to continue to make Alumni Stadium one of the hardest places to earn a result in the country. Over the last two years, the Irish have gone 21-3-3 at home. Since the start of the 2019 season – a staggering 33-6-4.
Lastly, a reminder to all fans wishing to come, admission is free to all regular-season Notre Dame soccer matches. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff.
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