FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3 seeded Notre Dame women’s soccer team played the name of the game in the NCAA Tournament – survive and advance. The Fighting Irish (14-5-2) did just that on Friday evening at Razorback Field, advancing past Purdue (15-4-3) 4-3 in penalty kicks after drawing 1-1 through two overtimes.
Olivia Wingate scored her sixth goal of the season and her first of this postseason. However, the woman of the match award certainly goes to goalkeeper Ashley Naylor. The sophomore made four huge saves in regular time and two more in PK’s.
How It Happened
Purdue got on the board early thanks to quick counter attack and key deflection. Ashley Naylor made the initial save off of Purdue’s Sarah Griffith, but Emily Mathews was in the right spot at the right time to put away the goal in the seventh minute.
Yet, Notre Dame got the goal back in the 28th minute. The play started with a Sammi Fisher free kick from about 30 yards out in the middle of the field. The grad student hit a rocket off the post, deflected off the goalie and found Olivia Wingate who put it away for her sixth goal of the year.
Notre Dame had a quality opportunity to go ahead in the 57th minute. Korbin Albert worked the ball into the right side of the box and fired off a shot near post which was saved by the Purdue keeper. Wingate got the rebound, but her shot hit off the far post. Then Kati Druzina got that rebound and her shot hit off the same post as well.
On the other end, Naylor came up with a huge diving save in the 72nd minute to keep the score level.
Fast forward to the 83rd minute – Brooke VanDyck dribbled past a few Purdue defenders and found Fisher just inside the box on the right side. However, Fisher’s shot went just a little too high and to the left.
Both sides only produced a few chances in the first overtime. Eva Gaetino was the bright spot here, making a diving tackle, blocking Purdue’s game-winning attempt.
With the second overtime drawing no winner, the Irish marched on to penalty kicks, where they found their backs up against the wall down 3-2 after three rounds.
Insert Ashley Naylor, who recorded back-to-back saves over the next two rounds. Then Kiki Van Zanten made her penalty while Bri Martinez put the game on ice in the five spot.
Up Next
Notre Dame will face No. 2 seed Arkansas on Sunday. First touch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. Sunday marks the 19th appearance all-time for the Irish in the third round.
— ND —