NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 22 Notre Dame women’s soccer team won its fifth straight match after defeating Boston College 4-1 on Sunday. The Fighting Irish (9-1-1, 3-0-0) scored three goals in the final 21 minutes of play to put the Eagles (6-4-1, 0-3-0) away inside Alumni Stadium.
During Notre Dame’s five-match win streak, they have outscored its opposition 24-2. The Irish also improve to 18-3-2 over the last three years inside Alumni.
Sammi Fisher’s star continues to shine even brighter this fall, notching her second brace of the season with goals No. 9 and 10. Maddie Mercado recorded goal No. 4 on the year, while freshman Kaylie Ronan secured her first career goal in an Irish uniform.
How It Happened
Notre Dame’s lone first-half goal came in the fifth minute. Kati Druzina crossed the ball into the box to Olivia Wingate who brought it down and tried spinning toward the goal. An Eagles defender then took her down, resulting in a penalty kick in which Sammi Fisher sent home.
The Irish had plenty of good looks around the net in the first half but just couldn’t expand upon their lead. Those moments include a cross attempt from Bri Martinez to Wingate around the six-yard box, an open-look from Fisher just within the 18, a Kiki Van Zanten breakaway chance and an Eva Gaetino header off a corner attempt.
Goal No. 2 for Notre Dame came in the 65th-minute when a Van Zanten pass attempt in the box deflected off a Boston College defender’s hand. Maddie Mercado stepped up and buried the goal for her fourth on the season.
Just five minutes later the Irish would go up by three thanks to Ronan. With the Irish on the counter-attack, Erin Hohnstein placed a perfect through ball down the right side to Ronan. The freshman then dribbled in and buried it far post for her first career goal. It marked Hohnstein’s second assist of the year.
The Eagles did get on the board in the 75th-minute when the referee called a handball on a Notre Dame defender, as the Irish conceded their first goal since Sept 12.
Lastly, just when Irish fans thought the game was over, goal No. 4 happened in the final two seconds. An assist from none other than goalkeeper Ashley Naylor, whose punt sailed over the entire BC defense and found Sammi Fisher. She did what she does best, which was find the back of the net.
With the victory, Notre Dame moved to 14-1-1 all-time against Boston College with a 9-0-0 mark at home.
Up Next
The Irish hit the road for a Friday night under the lights showdown at NC State. That matchup will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
— ND —