SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The #5/4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1, 1-1) suffered their first loss of the season as they fell, 7-9, to the #24/NR Virginia Cavaliers (2-3, 1-0) on Sunday evening in the Loftus Sports Center.
The Irish were led by Grace Maroney and Katie Mallaber, who tied her career high, as they each scored two goals a piece. Maroney finished with a team-best three points.
Emma Murphy and Abby Lyons each scored their first goal of the season, with Madison Rassas also scoring a goal for the Irish. At the draw, Uma Kowalski finished with a team-best four draw controls.
The trio of Sloane Ginevan, Ceci Patterson, and Lila O’Brien led the team with two caused turnovers a piece, recording six of the team’s 10 caused turnovers. Ginevan and Patterson also led the Irish with two ground balls each. Patterson capped off her stat line with 11 saves, tying her career-best this season.
Despite the Cavaliers scoring first, the Irish struck right back as they scored three straight goals. Maura Irish first found Rassas to put Notre Dame on the board to tie it up at 1-all. Shortly after, Murphy scored her first goal of the season as she was followed by a Maroney free position goal to make it a 3-1 game and force the Virginia timeout.
With the Irish leading 3-1 to start the second quarter, the Cavaliers would go on to outscore Notre Dame 5-1 in the period to make it 4-6 at halftime.
As the Irish looked to turn it up in the second half, Wynter Jock found Maroney as her second goal of the night would spark the Irish offense. Mallaber kept the momentum rolling as Maroney dished it to her on a cut to the goal to tie it up at 6-all. Mallaber followed with a free position goal to put the Irish in front 7-6 with 3:40 remaining in the period.
With the Irish holding the Cavaliers scoreless in the third quarter, they maintained the 7-6 advantage heading into the final period.
Virginia wasn’t going anywhere as they countered with a 3-0 run of their own. Only taking two shots in the fourth period, the Irish struggled to score to counter the Cavalier run. With Virginia’s final goal being scored at 3:33, the Irish would come up just short to the Cavaliers, falling 7-9.
UP NEXT
The Irish will host the #25/20 Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m.