FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3 seeded Notre Dame women’s soccer team was engaged in an absolute battle with No. 2 seeded Arkansas in Sunday’s Sweet 16 matchup, but ultimately dropped a 3-2 decision. The Fighting Irish (14-6-2) rallied twice to tie the game, receiving goals from both Korbin Albert and Olivia Wingate. However, the Razorbacks (19-4-0) found their game-winner late, in the 78th minute, as the Irish ran out of time for the third equalizer.
Korbin Albert finished her stellar freshman campaign with 12 goals, the second most on the team. Meanwhile, Olivia Wingate closes the year with seven goals.
Notre Dame ends its season with a 14-6-2 record, marking its best record since 2014, when they achieved the very same mark. The Irish boasted the 16th best RPI entering the tournament, went 7-3-0 in the top-ranked RPI conference in the country and scored its most goals (52) since the 2010 national championship squad.
How It Happened
Arkansas used the air game to put pressure on the Irish early. The Razorbacks had four corner kicks in the opening 17 minutes and also utilized deep throw-ins that could reach the middle of the Irish box. In fact, that’s how Arkansas got on the board in the 10th minute.
After a deep throw was deflected toward the middle of the box, Arkansas’ Taylor Malham put it away for the first score of the match.
However, the Irish weathered the storm and began to create chances of their own. Insert none other than Korbin Albert in the 22nd minute for the Notre Dame equalizer.
It started with Bri Martinez counter-attacking down the right side, making a key sliding tackle that pushed the ball forward to Albert. The freshman out of Illinois then broke down her defender and delivered a left-footed rocket to the upper-90 near post.
At the half, shots on goal were 6-1 in Arkansas’ favor but all that mattered was the scoreboard reading 1-1. With that said, sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Naylor continued to show out, recording two stellar diving saves in the half.
Around the 51st minute, it looked like Notre Dame was going to take the lead. Kati Druzina hit a beautiful line-drive cross from the left side, but Martinez was hip-checked out of position to score and there was no call. The unfortunate series of events led to an Arkansas goal just a mere two minutes later.
Yet the Irish lived up to their fighting moniker, finding the equalizer yet again, this time in the 63rd minute. Eva Gaetino hit a long through ball to Wingate, who used her dazzling speed for the breakaway and pushed the ball past the Arkansas keeper.
The see-saw battle continued with the Razorbacks finding the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute. Arkansas won a key 50-50 ball in the Irish defensive third, pushed it to the right side where Malham lined her goal to the upper-right 90.
At that point, the clock was against the Irish, who maintained most of the possession in Arkansas’ half for the final 10 minutes. Yet, the third equalizer wouldn’t fall.
— ND —