NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s soccer team (6-1-1) executed a second half rally to defeat the Brown Bears (4-2-0) via the score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon inside Alumni Stadium. Junior Kati Druzina delivered both assists on the day as Brooke VanDyck and Sammi Fisher each scored. It marked Fisher’s third game-winning goal of the season.
With today’s win, Doug & Lisa Jones Family head coach Nate Norman has recorded his best start at Notre with a 6-1-1 mark through eight games.
How It Happened
The first half was a peculiar one at Alumni, as the Irish owned 64 percent of the possession but found themselves trailing 1-0 at the midway point. Brown’s Evelyn Calhoon was able to score off a thrown-in play in which the ball ricocheted a few times around the box before she put it in the back of the net in the 15th minute.
After that point, Brown really settled into its defensive third with numbers, as Notre Dame tried to break through the sturdy defense. Notre Dame could only muster two shots, with the best chance coming off of a corner kick in which Eva Gaetino’s header went wide left.
Notre Dame continued to muster most of the possession in the second half, trying to break through for that first goal and it almost came in the 60th minute.
Kaylie Ronan sent a cross from the left side into the middle of the box where Maddie Mercado almost back-heeled into the net. It took a diving save from Brown’s Kayla Thompson.
However, the Irish finally found that breakthrough goal in the 67th minute. Kati Druzina beat her defender on the left-hand side and delivered a low cross into the middle of the box. Fisher executed a great dummy which led to a wide open Brooke VanDyck, who buried it over the goalie to score in her second consecutive match.
Fast forward to the 77th minute and Druzina manufactured the go-ahead goal for the Irish. The junior hit a cross off the goal line, as Fisher volleyed it home from the six-yard box. It marked Fisher’s sixth goal of the season, tying her previous season high total of 2019.
Just a minute later, sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Naylor came up big with a save on a Brown breakaway, preventing that second goal and the eventual win for the Irish.
Up Next
The Irish open up ACC play by hosting Syracuse Saturday night (Sept. 18) under the lights. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will once again be free admission for all fans.
— ND —