| NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals: | #4 Notre Dame (14-3-4) |
|---|---|
| Opponent: | #3 Stanford (15-4-2) |
| Where: | Stanford, CA | Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium |
| When: | Friday, Nov. 29 | 5 pm ET |
| Watch: | ESPN+ |
| Social: | NDWSOC Twitter NDWSOC Instagram |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Notre Dame women’s soccer team continues its trek in the NCAA Tournament by heading to Razorback Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the second and third rounds. Up first, a familiar foe in Purdue on Friday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. ET. If successful, the Irish would advance to play either Virginia Tech or host Arkansas on Sunday at a t0-be-determined time. Both games will be streamed live on SECN+.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
For the 27th time over the last 29 years, Notre Dame women’s soccer are dancing in the NCAA Tourney. Not only did the Irish earn a berth, but drew a national seed (No. 3) as well.
Notre Dame’s overall postseason record now sits at 70-22-3. The Irish boast three NCAA championships – 1995, 2004, 2010, including 12 appearances at the College Cup.
If the Irish were to win on Friday, it would mark their 19th all-time appearance in the 3rd Round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition, they have made a total of 15 appearances in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tourney. However, the last time they made it to the quarters was back in 2012.
REGULAR SEASON REMATCH
The Irish and Boilermakers have already met once this season, with Notre Dame earning a 1-0 victory back on September 2. Olivia Wingate scored the game-winner in the 59th minute off of a Sammi Fisher corner kick. The ball was sent deep to the far side of the six-yard box, where it was met by Eva Wirtz. The sophomore then headed it back to the middle where Wingate buried it with her head into the corner for the goal.
Though the shots on goal differential were only 5-4 in favor of ND, the Irish finished the match with 70 percent of the possession.
BEST SEASON IN A DECADE
The Irish have won 14 games so no matter how the season ends, it will mark Coach Norman’s best year at the helm.
The Irish could also achieve its best season in term of winning percentage since the 2010 season – when that squad simply went 21-2-2 and won a national championship. They would need at least two more wins for that to happen.
The Irish also made program history with its 6-0-0 start in ACC play, before finishing 7-3-0.
2020: 6-7-0
2019: 11-8-1
2018: 8-10-0
2017: 10-7-5
2016:13-3-5
2015: 14-5-1
2014: 14-6-2
2013: 13-8-1
2012: 16-6-2
2011: 10-8-3
TOURNAMENT RESUME
The Irish have gone 14-5-1 this season and boast the 16th-best RPI in the country. Notre Dame went 6-4-1 against the RPI top-50. In addition, in the No. 1 rated RPI conference of the ACC, the Irish went 7-3 and earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament.
SUPER FRESHMAN
Super freshman Korbin Albert, who cracked the Irish starting XI on day one, has asserted herself into the list of top-20 ND freshmen all-time. Albert owns the second-most goals on the team with 11, which is tied for 16th on said list.
Albert is also red hot, scoring seven goals over the last nine games.
THREE ALL-ACC SELECTIONS
Sammi Fisher (31 points), Olivia Wingate (15 points) and Korbin Albert (26 points) were all rightfully honored by the league office with All-ACC awards. Fisher picked up First Team honors, while Wingate and Albert both landed on the Third Team. Albert also got the All-Freshman Team nod as well.
Fisher is now a three-time All-ACC selection and certainly playing like it. This weekend she’ll continue what is her best season of her career – ranking 2nd in the ACC with 13 goals, which also ranks 16th in the nation. Fisher has scored in 11-of-20 games this season.
Fisher has turned up the assist production as of late, registering four assists over the last eight games.
Then there’s Wingate, who boasts five goals and five assists. She scored the game-winner against Purdue, earned her first brace of the season at Miami and most recently scored at No. 7 UNC on Oct. 24. Wingate notched assist No. 5 in the regular-season finale vs Wake Forest. Her five assists have now tied both Fisher and Kati Druzina for the team lead.
SAVED BEST SEASON FOR LAST
Sammi Fisher has made the most of her graduate season, for it only took her one month of play to achieve her best year in an Irish uniform. She has now placed her name onto the list of top scorers in the country this season.
She owns 13 goals to her name, topping her previous season high of six set in 2019.
Her 13 goals rank 16th in the country and 2nd in the ACC. In addition, her 0.65 goals per game rank 28th in the nation and 4th in the league. Her 31 total points rank 27th nationally and 3rd in the ACC.
ON THE FRONT FOOT
Notre Dame has had a tendency to strike early, scoring a total of 12 goals in the first 20 minutes of games this season – spanning 10 different games. In fact, they have done so in eight of the past 13 games.
SIUE 3:23 | Wake Forest 19:58 | Clemson 11:51 | Louisville 0:37, 9:28 | NCST 0:58 | BC 4:49 | Syracuse 6:38 | Detroit 1:43, 11:59 | Wisconsin 7:52 | Bowling Green 7:14
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Coach Norman talked about how the freshmen class is his true first class at the helm of the program and they are certainly leaving their mark on this season.
Ten of the last 19 goals have been delivered from the foot of a freshman: Korbin Albert, Katie Coyle, Sophia Fisher and Kaylie Ronan.
Albert is the No. 8 ranked freshmen in Division I (according to Top Drawer Soccer) and she’s living up to the ranking. She owns the second most goals on the team with 11. In fact, she has seven goals in the last nine games, including an absolute rocket at No. 2 Virginia.
Katie Coyle recorded her first career game-winner, scoring in the second half of the 2-1 victory at NC State. Coyle owns two goals and one assist. Unfortunately, Coyle is currently mending a foot injury.
Sophia Fisher also has a game-winner, scoring in the 1-0 victory at Marquette. The freshman most recently scored in the win over Louisville, bringing her season total to three.
Last but not least, there’s Kaylie Ronan, who scored her first career goal in the win over Boston College on Sept. 26.
FLEXING THE OFFENSIVE MUSCLE
Notre Dame has scored 49 goals which rank 4th in the ACC and 20th in the nation. In addition, the 49 goals are the most in a season since 2010. Notre Dame’s scoring offense of 2.45 ranks 20th in the nation and 4th in the ACC. In addition, ND’s 132 total points rank 25th in the country.
— ND —