Game 9 Preview: #2 Virginia

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 18 Notre Dame women’s soccer (7-1-0, 0-1-0) can avenge its first loss of the season in a major way on Thursday when the No. 2 ranked team in the country visits Alumni Stadium. The Fighting Irish will host the Virginia Cavaliers on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. ET, with the game being streamed live on ACCNX. If the Irish can pull off the victory it’ll mark their first top-2 win since 2015 and their first at home since 2013.

LAST TIME STATS:

• Last time tied a top-5: at No. 4 North Carolina (2ot), T 1-1, Oct. 26, 2017
• Last time tied a top-2: at No. 2 Stanford (2ot), T 2-2, Sept. 11, 2016
• Last top-5 win: No. 5 Virginia Tech, W 3-0, Oct. 30, 2015
• Last top-2 win: at No. 1 Virginia (2ot), W 2-1, Sept. 24, 2015
• Last top-2 win at home: No. 1 North Carolina, W 1-0, Sept. 15, 2013

ND VS UVA – 2021

It was a back-and-forth showdown at Klockner Stadium last fall but ND fell to Virginia, 2-1. It was a scoreless battle through 82 minutes, as the Irish built momentum in the second half with several near chances. Yet, Virginia found the back of the net twice in 37 seconds shortly after. Despite that, the Irish fought on and received a goal from Korbin Albert in the 85th-minute.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Irish have made Alumni Stadium a difficult venue for opposing programs to succeed in. Since its creation in 2009, Notre Dame has gone 113-27-6, good for a .795 winning percentage. In fact, they have only surrendered one loss or better on six separate seasons. 

Looking at just the past four years (counting this season as a year), the Irish are 27-4-2 at home. 

Notre Dame went 10-1-1 during the 2021 campaign – its lone loss a 3-2 decision to Clemson in the ACC Tournament.

NOTABLE NOTES

Notre Dame is averaging 11.0 shots on goal, which ranks 4th  nationally. Overall, the Irish are averaging 23.62 shots per game, which ranks 4th nationally.

Those shots have led to a scoring offense that ranks 32nd (2.62) with a total goals ranking of 33rd (21) and total points of 38th (59).

Also how about tops in the country – 1st nationally in corner kicks per game – 9.0. Notre Dame finally got its first goal off a corner kick on Sept. 11 vs Ohio when Albert delivered a perfect ball to a flying Gaetino who’s header found the back of the net.

Olivia Wingate —  37th in game winning goals (2) // 23rd in goals per game (0.75) // 40th in points per game (1.62) // 12th in shot accuracy (0.697) // 22nd in shots per game (4.12) // 3rd in shots on goal per game (2.88) // 25th in total goals (6).

Maddie Mercado — 37th in game-winning goals (2) // 6th in shots per game (4.5) // 6th in shots on goal per game (2.62).

A 7-0 START

The Irish posted a perfect non-conference slate for the first time since 2008, going 7-0-0 –> that same year the Irish went 26-1 and made the NCAA title game. 

The Irish produced two ranked wins during the non-con, knocking off No. 19 Saint Louis 2-0 on the road and then No. 22 Wisconsin 4-1 at home.   

The Irish suffered its first loss of the season in a 2-0 defeat at No. 24 Clemson on Sept. 15. It marked the first time ND had trailed in a game this season. The Tigers made the most of its few chances, scoring two goals on four shots on net. 

OFFENSIVE FLURRY

Notre Dame has tallied a 21-5 goal aggregate thus far. The 21 goals through eight games is the best in Coach Norman’s tenure and the most through eight games since the 2015 season. 

Furthermore, Notre Dame has scored multiple goals in all seven of its wins this season. Out of the 21 goals – it’s come from 9 different players: Wingate (6), Mercado (5), Klenke (2), Albert (2), Van Zanten (2), Fisher, Ospeck, Coyle and Gaetino. 

DETERMINED DEFENSE

Notre Dame’s four shutout victories to start the year tied its second best shutout victory streak to start a season. The other instances and streaks included: 1995 (8), 2008 (4), 2010 (4). 

The Irish defense surrendered its first goal of the season after 439 minutes of play in game five vs. Wisconsin. 

All-in-all, they’ve allowed five goals through eight games, which equates to a 0.625 GAA (ranks 40th in the nation).

The five goals is an interesting number for the ND backline has only allowed 17 total shots on net, which equates to just over two per game. On the season, ND owns a 88-17 SOG advantage. 

Total shots wise, they’re up 189-45 (23.6 vs 5.6) over the opposition. 

IRISH IN THE CHARTS

It seems the United Soccer Coaches poll doesn’t know where to place the Irish for this has been the weekly progression despite the 7-1-0 record:

No. 16 – Unranked – No. 16 – No. 12 – No. 6 – No. 18. 

The last time ND was as high as No. 6 (and the last time they climbed as high as a single-digit ranking) was the 2016 season.

The first RPI rankings were released on Sept. 19 and the Irish checked in at No. 4 in the country. They were the second highest ACC team behind No. 2 UNC. Virginia was right behind at No. 5. The Irish are 2-1 against the RPI Top-25.

Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 10th in the country.

THREE ACC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Out of the first four weeks for ACC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week announcements, Notre Dame has claimed three honorees.  

In her second week into collegiate soccer, Leah Klenke was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30 in her efforts in the wins over No. 19 Saint Louis and Illinois. Klenke started at left back in both shutout victories. She also led to Sophia Fisher’s second half goal against Saint Louis, then recorded a beautiful goal against Illinois in which she floated a ball from outside the box on the left side, over the keeper and into the far post of the net. 

A week later on Sept. 6, Olivia Wingate took home the offensive honor after registering her first career hat trick in a dominant 4-1 win over a ranked Wisconsin squad. 

A week later on Sept. 13, it was Kiki Van Zanten who earned the offensive ACC nod. The senior scored in back-to-back games in wins over Purdue and Ohio, including a three-point performance against the latter. 

— ND —