INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 9 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (4-1-0) handed the Butler Bulldogs (3-1-1) their first loss of the season with a 1-0 victory on Sunday evening. For the Fighting Irish, it was their fourth straight win and their fourth consecutive shutout as well.
Doug and Lisa Jones Head Coach Nate Norman has struck gold with freshman sensations Izzy Engle and Grace Restovich. The latter, who has been dynamic in the midfield, set up the game-winning goal in the 18th minute of the match. After a tremendous first touch set up Restovich to attach the Butler defense, the freshman dished to Engle, who tucked away the match’s lone goal.
Engle has put together an unbelievable hot streak to start her collegiate career. She now has six goals on the young season, which is tied for second most in the country and tops for a freshman.
Restovich now has two goals and three assists on the season. Engle and Restovich sit atop the Irish leaderboard in total points with 13 and seven, respectively.
On the other side of this conversation is the Notre Dame defense with its fourth consecutive shutout. The backline of senior captain Sophia Fisher, along with freshmen Abby Mills and Abby Gemma, continue to find their groove. Sophomore Atlee Olofson started in net for the third time this season and picked up her third shutout. Olofson earned four saves on the evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Izzy Engle continues to be a game-changer. Once the freshman checked in, the tide began to shift in the match and the Irish began to force its will on the Bulldogs.
In the 18th minute, magic struck in a great build-up in the middle of the field. Laney Matriano passed to Restovich whose first touch opened up space away from her defender and toward the Butler goal. Three dribbles later, she found Engle on the right side of the box who one-timed it past the keeper and into the left side of the net.
Fast forward to the 31st minute and Engle almost made it a first-half brace. Morgan Roy hit a low cross into the middle of the box and Engle slid to try to redirect it in but it was blocked. The ball ultimately found Lily Joseph’s foot who shot it as well, but the Bulldog defense collapsed on her for another block.
Another prime opportunity to make it 2-0 occurred in the 36th minute when Laney Matriano stepped up to take a penalty kick. Unfortunately for the Irish, the Butler goalkeeper guessed correctly for the save. That ultimately was the last chance of the half as Notre Dame took a 1-0 advantage into the locker room.
The first true scoring chance of the second half arrived in the 60th minute and it belonged to Butler, as the Bulldogs had a direct kick from just outside the box. Olofson made an athletic save to her right to keep the shutout streak alive.
Notre Dame’s first true scoring chance in the second half came five minutes later. Matriano hit a deep ball from ND’s own 47-yard line (the match was played on Butler’s football field) and found a sprinting Restovich behind the Bulldog defense. Restovich got a shot off but the Butler keeper came out and made a save at the very edge of the 18-yard box.
Sophomore Chayse Ying had a glorious opportunity in the 80th minute. Ellie Ospeck dribbled the ball deep down the left side, all the way to the Butler goal line. Ospeck then dropped the ball back to Ying who ripped a shot but right at the keeper.
UP NEXT
This coming week’s slate features two home games back inside Alumni Stadium. The Fighting Irish will look to knock off Northern Illinois on Thursday, September 5, at 7 p.m. ET. Then they return to the pitch on Sunday, September 8, against Marquette. That match will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
In addition to next weekend, the Irish will be honoring the 20th anniversary of the 2004 national championship team.
— ND –