NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame dropped a hard-fought overtime decision at Alumni Stadium on Saturday night to North Carolina by a score of 2-1. The Irish are now 8-7 on the season.
The Notre Dame goal came from Reese Mayer, who got a touch on a Dawson McCartney free kick, for his first career score with the Irish.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight outing the Irish grabbed an early lead. Notre Dame won a free kick around 30 yards out and Dawson McCartney whipped in a beautiful ball into the box. Mayer fought to get a touch on it and put it past the UNC keeper to put the Irish up 1-0, a lead they took into the half.
The visitors came out firing early in the second half but Notre Dame goalkeeper Bryan Dowd was up to the challenge, making two big saves to keep the Irish lead intact.
The Tar Heels earned a free kick on the edge of the box in the 63rd minute and Santiago Herrera fired in his shot to level the score at 1-1.
Notre Dame had a golden opportunity in the 78th minute, as Jack Lynn and Aiden McFadden both had headers go off the bar in a span of a few seconds but were unable to convert, sending the match to overtime.
In the 96th minute North Carolina managed to slip a pass and play Tim Schels in on goal and the Tar Heel scored the game winner for the visitors.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the performance…
“I’m obviously gutted for the result. We have played really well the last two games and have lost two games and have trailed for a total of a minute and 10 seconds so it is a little tough to swallow. Credit to North Carolina for finding a way to get the goal in overtime.
“But with that I couldn’t be prouder of the group. I thought we competed well, I thought we played well, I thought we created chances. We hit the woodwork a couple times and we just couldn’t get it in tonight. Hats off to the group for having another improvement in their performance. I am really impressed with the way they are playing right now.”
UP NEXT
The Irish play their final road match of the regular season at Pitt at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 3 in another ACC contest. The game will air on ACCNX.
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