SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 4 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (14-2-1, 7-2-1) needed a win on Thursday night against No. 11 Duke (11-4-2, 6-2-2) to claim a share of the ACC regular-season championship. Though their quest for the title fell short with a 2-2 draw, the Irish lived up to their fighting up moniker, rallying down twice.
In fact, Notre Dame outshot Duke 18-7, recording the most shots against the Blue Devils of any opponent all season. One could argue that the Irish dictated most of the play and had several scoring chances with 11 shots on goal.
Korbin Albert notched her second consecutive brace and third of the season, which both her goals coming in the second half. Albert has now scored eight goals in the past six games, including three game-winners.
That footwork though 🤯
Filthiness again from @Korbinalbert2! #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/I6Jplt0j6Q
— ND Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) October 28, 2022
Up next for the Irish – a quick turnaround with the ACC Tournament opening round on Sunday. Notre Dame is the three-seed and will host six-seed Pitt at home in a revenge match. That matchup will either at 6 pm ET on ACC Network.
THE BRACKET IS SET. ⚽️
The #ACCWsoccer Championship kicks off Oct. 30‼️
⚽️🎟️: https://t.co/UHW0L7BnxU
⚽️🏆: https://t.co/DXfv2GP9jw pic.twitter.com/gOqc3ufQNY— The ACC (@theACC) October 28, 2022
How It Happened
Notre Dame found itself in a position it really hadn’t felt much this season, trailing at the half 1-0. Duke had only two shots in the first half, yet it was an absolute rocket by Michelle Cooper in which Irish goalkeeper MacKenzie Wood could do nothing about.
At that point, Wood had gone a stretch of exactly 700 minutes without allowing a goal.
The undeterred Irish responded quickly in the second half, getting goal No. 1 in the 50th minute. Maddie Mercado made a move in the Duke box and was taken down for the penalty. Albert stepped up and delivered.
Duke got a go-ahead goal at 70:51, but the Irish resilience was on display shortly thereafter, tying it up again at 72:02. Albert with the beautiful footwork and hesitation move, set herself up for a right-footed shot deep into the corner.
The second half witnessed several different Irish with solid scoring chances, as Albert, Mercado, Gaetino, Wingate, Druzina, Martinez and Van Zanten all recorded shots.
— ND —