Sept. 2, 2016
by Tony Jones
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Defender Brandon Aubrey scored a free kick goal in the 104th minute to lift the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 win over No. 15 Stanford on Friday night in game one of the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic at Armstrong Stadium.
Aubrey’s screamer from 30 yards that tucked itself under the crossbar and into the left netting, his third goal of 2016, capped the Irish comeback after striker Jon Gallagher tied the game at 1-1 in the 86th minute. A give-and-go feed from classmate Jeffrey Farina found Gallagher in space, where a shot from 14 yards out caromed off Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Epstein and into the mesh at 85:39 for Gallagher’s third goal of the season.
GOOOOAALLLLLLLLL!!!!
The 2013 NCAA Champions (@NDMenSoccer) topped the 2015 Champs (Stanford) with this OT STRIKE! pic.twitter.com/Vm7XQ5tLly
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) September 3, 2016
No. 4 Notre Dame (3-0-0) took control of the match in the 70th minute after Stanford’s (0-1-2) Justin Kahl was sent off with his second yellow card of the night at 69:44. The Irish outshot the Cardinal 11-1 over the final 33 plus minutes of the match to secure the program’s first series win against Stanford.
Notre Dame resumes play at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic on Sunday, facing No. 22 California at 12:30 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium. Live stats will be available via IUHoosiers.com.
Season and single game tickets for the 2016 Notre Dame men’s soccer season remain on sale. Visit und.com/tickets or call the Murnane Family Ticket Office at 574-631-7356 for more information or to purchase tickets.
Play of the Game
Notre Dame tri-captain Evan Panken looked to move possession deep into the Stanford third when he was hauled down from behind, earning an Irish free kick from nearly 30 yards away, straight-on goal. After Jack Casey replaced Panken during the clock stoppage, Brandon Aubrey calmly stepped up and delivered a rocket free kick under the crossbar and inside the left post to end the game at 103:47, closing the improbable Notre Dame rally from a goal down against the defending NCAA champion.
Turning Point
Once Stanford was forced to play with 10 men after Justin Kahl received his second yellow card of the match in the 70th minute, it took three more Notre Dame shots before the Irish finally broke through against the Cardinal defense in the 86th minute. An expert left-footed pass near the end line at the left post by Jeffrey Farina found Jon Gallagher in front, and a well-time right-footed flick by the Notre Dame striker Gallagher equalized the match at 1-1.
Coach Bobby Clark
On responding from the first half deficit against Stanford…
“In the first half we were slightly asleep I think, and even though Chris Hubbard thought he saved their goal (that ricocheted off the right goal post) I think it really woke us up. The boys were all disappointed at halftime, not just with the goal but with how we had played. None of us were very happy, none of the players and obviously the coaching staff weren’t very happy. Full marks to them, they came out with a completely different attitude in the second half. Soccer is funny sometimes, you can’t turn it on and off like a tap. The break at halftime let them come together and gather their thoughts, and it was a much more proactive approach in the second period.”
On breaking through once Stanford was down to 10 men…
“They had a guy sent off about halfway through the second half (70th minute), and after that…Once we got the equalizer, we knew in overtime who was going to win it. They tried to get out with a tie with only 10 men. A great shot by big Brandon Aubrey, his third goal for us now, and the first goal was terrific work by Jeffrey Farina. He took a throw-in, turned his man around the line and cut it back for Jon Gallagher. Jon just slotted it home.”
On the team not settling for a result against the defending national champion…
“Our boys didn’t want a tie, and to be fair only having 10 men after the red card, at that stage of the game Stanford were trying to get out of dodge with a tie. It’s hard to dominate a game when you’re a man down, and in overtime they really were looking for a tie. Our guys were very eager to get a win.”
The consistent contributions of center back Brandon Aubrey…
“Nothing much intimidates the big man, even right from the start of the game. Stanford is a very direct team, they knock everything forward, play a territorial game and get everything into your half. Not unlike New Mexico, they get in your half and try to pin you in there. Brandon was fantastic when they would knock the ball in, his heading was superb.”
Refocusing to face California on Sunday…
“Coach BJ Craig summed up Cal very well by saying that they’re very efficient. They are efficient when they have the ball, very dangerous with good players. It’s a good team that’s well-coached. This will be a tough game for us, for sure.”
Note of the Game
Notre Dame is now 6-0-3 (.833) over its last nine matches at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic dating back to the 2012 season.
#4 Notre Dame 2, #15 Stanford 1 (2OT)
Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic, Game 1
September 2, 2016
Bloomington, Ind. (Armstrong Stadium)
No. 15 Stanford 1 0 0 0 — 1
No. 4 Notre Dame 0 1 0 1 — 2
STAN 1. Drew Skundrich (Tanner Beason), 41:23; ND 1. Jon Gallagher (Jeffrey Farina), 85:39; ND 2. Brandon Aubrey (-), 103:47.
Total Shots: ND 16 (2-10-3-1), Stanford 9 (6-3-0-0)
Shots on Goal: ND 8, Stanford 4
Saves: ND 3 (Chris Hubbard 3 in 103:47, Stanford 6 (Andrew Epstein 6 in 103:47)
Corner Kicks: ND 6 (3-2-1-0), Stanford 3 (2-1-0-0)
Fouls: ND 13, Stanford 10
Yellow Cards: Justin Kahl (Stanford) 58:02; Tommy McCabe (ND) 74:30
Red Card: Justin Kahl (Stanford) 69:44
Offsides: ND 1, Stanford 0
Attendance: 4,307
–ND–
Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.