NOTRE DAME, Ind. – It was ‘Golden Goal Gaetino’ inside Alumni Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the sophomore defender lifted the Notre Dame women’s soccer team (12-1-1, 6-0-0) to a 2-1 double-overtime victory against the Clemson Tiger (8-5-0, 3-3-0).
The Irish not only remain unbeaten at home this season (8-0-1), but also continue their historic start in ACC play with an unblemished 6-0-0 record.
In the 107th-minute, Sammi Fisher placed a perfect free kick in the middle of Clemson’s box, where Eva Gaetino went full superman dive and headed the ball into the back of the net. It was Gaetino’s first goal of the season.
Unreal game-winner in overtime from @evagaetino!!
Irish with their 8th straight win | Move to 6-0-0 in ACC play. #SCTop10 #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/1OW8Uqs0Gq
— ND WWWWWWWomen's Soccer (@NDSoccer) October 10, 2021
How It Happened
Notre Dame’s first goal wasn’t exactly how they drew it up but the Irish certainly didn’t mind. Olivia Wingate found Sammi Fisher on the left side of the box, who tried to cross it back to the middle but instead hit off a Clemson defender and into the goal.
Most of the half featured the Irish threatening, including a near goal from Kiki Van Zanten, who hit a rocket from around 20 yards out that hit off the left post. Sammi Fisher almost got her goal in the 27th as Clemson’s Hensley Hancuff had to make a diving save to her right to stave off the Irish.
Clemson had a few opportunities off corners to begin the game including a shot off a corner that would have gone in but Korbin Albert came to the rescue on the far post with a block and a clearance.
The Tigers got the equalizer in the 52nd-minute off of a corner kick, as the ball found the head of Hal Hershfelt who placed it perfectly in the corner.
Maddie Mercado almost had the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute after beating a few defenders to free up a right-footed bending shot that glanced off the right post.
Fast forward to the opening minutes of overtime and Van Zanten had the unfortunate luck of hitting the post yet again after a great right-footed flick beat the keeper.
Then, in the 107th-minute, Gaetino delivered off the free kick to hand Notre Dame its eighth straight win. For Fisher, it was her fourth assist on the season.
Up Next
The Irish embark on a critical three-match road swing against three straight top-10 opponents, starting with Virginia on Oct. 17.
— ND —