SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish opened up at home with a big win to get their three-game homestand started. The Irish won in dominating fashion as they defeated Central Michigan 20-7 on Sunday afternoon.
The Irish scoring was spread across eight different players with big career moments for several.
Madison Rassas not only scored her first career goal but led all players with five goals today. The standout freshman had a hat trick by the end of the first quarter. She finished the day with an impressive stat line of 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points, 3 draw controls, 2 caused turnovers, and a ground ball.
After scoring her first career goal against Northwestern on Friday, Emma Murphy recorded her first career hat trick today while also dishing out one assist and winning a draw control.
Angie Conley had herself a career day as well, recording her first ever hat trick. She also finished with a pair of caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls.
Kristen Shanahan played a great game on both sides of the ball as she sent home two goals and won 10 draw controls.
Kathryn Morrissey, Kate Timarky, and Fran Frieri each finished with two goals a piece.
Ellie McClelland got in on the scoring action too as the freshman midfielder recorded her first career goal in an Irish uniform.
Malie Follet and Isabel Pithie were in goal for the Irish, each recording two saves a piece. Pithie would take home the win, giving up just four goals across 45:00 in goal.
While the Irish offense struck first, Central Michigan responded shortly after with a goal of their own to tie it up at 1-all. Notre Dame would go on to score seven straight to lead 8-1 at the end of the first. Rassas herself put up three goals in the quarter, with Conley behind her with two in just 15 minutes of play.
Morrissey got the Irish offense going in the second, sending home the first goal of the quarter to spark the Irish offense as they outscored the Chippewas 6-1 to make it 14-2 at halftime.
Meghan O’Hare assisted Rassas on the first goal of the third period as back-to-back Rassas goals extended the Notre Dame lead 16-2. Central Michigan responded with back-to-back goals of their own, but the Irish would score one last goal in the third as Fran Frieri sent it home to make it 17-4 heading into the final period.
Both squads scored three goals in the fourth quarter as the Irish secured their first win of the season 20-7.
UP NEXT
The Irish will host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3:00 p.m. in Loftus.