CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s been a memorable year already for Notre Dame women’s soccer – going 4-1-2 against the nation’s Top-25, which included knocking off two top-3 teams for the first time during the same regular season (No. 2 Virginia & No. 3 Florida State). Now, the Atlantic Coast Conference has taken notice in its end-of-the-year awards.
Not only did Notre Dame earn its first ‘of the Year’ award, it brought home three! Doug & Lisa Jones Family Head Coach Nate Norman claimed ACC Coach of the Year. Sophomore Korbin Albert was named ACC Midfielder of the Year. Then junior Eva Gaetino was dubbed ACC Defender of the Year.
In addition, Notre Dame tied its program record for most All-ACC team honorees with five (previously done 2016).
Graduate Olivia Wingate joined Gaetino and Albert on the First Team. Next, senior Maddie Mercado and graduate goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood landed on the Third Team list. Lastly, Leah Klenke rounded out the Irish honors on the ACC All-Freshman Team list.
Let’s start with Coach Norman – taking a squad that was picked to finish sixth in the ACC and ultimately finished third and was a goal away from a share of the regular-season title. Norman’s squad is 14-2-2 on the year, is ranked fourth in the country, is battling for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and takes on FSU on Thursday for a spot in the ACC Tournament title game.
Then there’s Gaetino, who has anchored a dominant backline in the middle. The Irish defense has recorded 11 shutouts on the year as their 0.611 shutout percentage ranks 12th in the country. In addition, they are only allowing 2.8 shots on goal per game. The Mac Hermann Watch list honoree also boasts one goal to her name, scored via header off a corner kick.
Next there’s Albert, who should definitely be on the Mac Hermann List after the second half of the season she’s had. She has scored eight goals over the last seven games. The Illinois native currently boasts 24 points on four assists and 10 goals. In fact, three of her goals have come from impressive free-kicks from distance.
For First-Team honoree Wingate, it’s been a career year with highs in points (27), goals (11) and assists (5). Her 11 goals and 27 points also rank second in the ACC.
Mercado came into her own up top this year with a career best eight goals. In fact her four game-winners rank 22nd nationally and are tied for first in the ACC alongside Albert.
Wood has been not only one of the best in net in the ACC, but the nation as well. Her .454 goals against average rank eighth nationally while her nine shutouts rank 16th. Both stats lead the ACC.
The freshman Klenke has started all 18 games for the Irish and has helped Gaetino and Waniya Hudson power the dominant three-woman backline. Not to mention Klenke is a threat to push up, recording two goals and two assists. Top Drawer Soccer has listed Klenke as the No. 7 best freshman in the country.
Up next, the Irish jump head first into a top-5 battle in the ACC Tournament semis. It’ll be No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Florida State on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
– ND –