CARY, N.C. – For the first time in program history, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s soccer team is heading to the ACC Championship. On Thursday evening, the No. 2-seed Irish (14-1-2, 8-1-1) secured their spot in the championship by defeating the No. 3-seed Duke Blue Devils (13-4-1, 7-3-0) in the ACC semifinals in a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
The sophomore duo of All-ACC First Team forwards, Izzy Engle and Annabelle Chukwu, each scored a goal in the win. Charlie Codd, Abby Mills, and Morgan Roy each dished out an assist for the Irish.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a battle from the start in Cary, but ultimately, the Irish would strike first and are now 11-0-1 this season when doing so.
The Irish had an opportunity in the 27th minute and who other than the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Izzy Engle, to put the Fighting Irish on the board first.
CODD ➡️ ENGLE
The Irish strike first in the 27' 🔥#GoIrish☘️ | @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/YRni9Jyeyo
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) November 6, 2025
Codd sent Engle a beautiful ball through three Blue Devil defenders before Engle was able to shoot past a diving Duke goalkeeper to give the Irish the 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils continued to look for chances as they finally had an equalizer in the 41st minute to make it 1-all heading into halftime.
Looking to take their first lead of the night, Duke had another look early in the second half in the 53rd minute, but was called back on an offsides call.
In the 63rd minute, the Irish had a chance on a great shot from Engle, but it hit the crossbar to keep it at an even 1-1 slate.
In the final 15 minutes, Kasica had two big-time saves to keep the Irish in the game. After a save in the 77th minute, she followed with another huge save on a corner kick header in the 82nd minute.
What a save from Kasica!
1-all here in the 82' #GoIrish☘️ | @theACC pic.twitter.com/DVGar7ulzS
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) November 7, 2025
With just under three minutes on the clock, the Irish had their final chance of the night to put themselves in front. Roy was on the attack as she sent it right past a defender to Chukwu who on a sliding kick, sent it past the goalkeeper to put the Irish up 2-1 in the closing minutes.
ANNABELLE CHUKWU!!!!!! 😤
Irish take the lead 2-1 in the 88' #GoIrish☘️ | @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/5JuVHEMMiW
— Notre Dame Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) November 7, 2025
The Irish would hold the Blue Devils scoreless as the time expired and the Irish made history in the 2-1 win to give them a chance at the ACC Championship title on Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Irish will take on the winner of No. 1-seed Stanford and No. 5-seed Virginia on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. ET. The match will take place at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. and can be watched on ACC Network.