DURHAM, N.C. – Two of the top teams in the country waged war on the pitch Thursday night, and what an emotional rollercoaster it was. No. 7 Notre Dame women’s soccer rallied down a goal to No. 1 Duke to take a 3-1 lead in the second half. Then the Blue Devils (12-1-1, 7-0-1) scored quickly to tie it at 3-3.
Later, the Irish (10-1-4, 4-0-4) went up a player after a Duke red card and had plenty of chances to take the lead, which included a missed penalty kick in the 79th minute. When the 90-minute horn sounded, the Irish and Blue Devils settled for a 3-3 draw.
Tonight marked the most goals Notre Dame has scored in program history against the top-ranked team in the country. It also marked the first time Duke has given up multiple goals all season.
Izzy Engle recorded a first half brace and made a little history in the process. It marked the first time in program history that an Irish freshman recorded a brace against the No. 1 team in the country. Engle now has 13 goals on the season, which ranks as the 11th most by a Notre Dame freshman all-time.
Fellow freshman Annabelle Chukwu scored ND’s third goal of the match. It was her third goal of the 2024 campaign.
Sonoma Kasica came up huge in net tonight, time after time. She recorded a career-high eight saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish found themselves down 1-0 after 23 minutes of play. In a moment of need, they turned to their top goal scorer and playmaker, Izzy Engle. The Minnesota native scored back-to-back goals in less than in a two-minute span (25:41 and 27:31).
The first was a perfect example of poise. She could have taken a right-footed shot with a defender on her in the box, but she cut it back to her left foot, juking the defender. Now wide open, Engle buried the shot in the left corner to tie.
The second goal was perfection by two players. First, a beautiful cross by Restovich from the left side. Second, a masterful header by Engle in the box to tuck it past the keeper.
Thus, the Irish took a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Then at 46:33, Annabelle Chukwu put on a clinic from just outside the box. A stepover scissors move to juke her defender, a touch to her left, followed by an absolute rocket that beat the goalkeeper near post. It was Irish up 3-1 and things were looking up for the visitors.
Up next unfortunately was the Duke response. It was their turn to score back-to-back goals, scoring two goals in a three-and-a-half minute span starting in the 52nd minute.
Notre Dame navigated the ups and downs and found another opportunity in the 62nd minute. Duke’s Nicole Chico received a red card when she took down Izzy Engle as the last defender. With a player up, Notre Dame created several chances. The best chance came in the 79th minute when Notre Dame was awarded a penalty kick; however, Leah Klenke’s shot hit off the right post and out.
UP NEXT
The Irish will return home to host No. 19 Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. ET.
— ND –