SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Irish and Panthers will meet for the third time this season with a spot in the College Cup on the line with an NCAA quarterfinal matchup at Alumni Stadium at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 4. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket window for $5 and students will get in free with their student ID. The match will be broadcast on ACCNX.
#4 NOTRE DAME vs. #5 PITT
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Alumni Stadium
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. Pitt
THE IRISH IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
• Notre Dame is playing in its 23rd NCAA Championship in 2021 and have played in the tourney in 19 of the last 21 seasons.
• The Irish have an overall record of 21-20-3 in the NCAA Championships.
• The Irish have advanced to the round of 16 on 11 occasions and have made five quarterfinals.
• Notre Dame won the College Cup in 2013, defeating Maryland by a score of 2-1 to capture the title. It was the program’s only trip to the College Cup.
• Notre Dame is 15-8-3 when playing at home in NCAA Tournament play in program history and has advanced to the next round 17 times.
• The Irish are 12-8-2 in their opening NCAA Tournament matches in program history and have advanced to the next round 14 times.
• Notre Dame’s No. 4 national seed is the highest the program has earned since being the top-seed during the 2014 season.
THE PITT SERIES
• The Irish and Panthers will meet on the pitch for the 31st time on Saturday.
• Notre Dame holds a decisive lead in the all-time series with a record of 20-7-3.
• The Irish were victorious in both matchups earlier this season, defeating the Panthers in double overtime by a final score of 1-0 in the regular season at Alumni Stadium and 2-0 in the ACC semifinals in Pittsburgh.
• Pitt has only been shutout twice this season, both coming in matches against the Irish.
KEEP IT CLEAN
• The Notre Dame defense has come into form in the second half of the season, entering Saturday’s match posting 10 clean sheets in its last 12 matches.
• The Irish have totaled 13 shutouts on the season, with Bryan Dowd in goal for 10 and Thomas Deslongchamps recording three.
• The 13 clean sheets are tied for third most in program history and the most since recording 13 during the 2006 season.
• Notre Dame has eight clean sheets against ACC opponents, the most by any team in the conference this season (Pitt x2, Duke, Clemson, Wake Forest, Louisville, NC State x2)
• Opponents have scored multiple goals in just four of 22 matches this season.
• Despite playing some of the top teams in the country, the Irish have allowed just five goals in the last 14 matches.
FINISHING STRONG
• The Irish have made it a habit of dominating the second half of matches, outscoring the opposition 30-7 in the final 45 minutes of regulation.
• Notre Dame’s defense hasn’t allowed a goal in the second half in the last 12 matches, outscoring the opposition 17-0 in the second half during that stretch.
• The last time the Irish allowed a goal was in a 2-1 win against Virginia on October 1.
LYNN LEADS THE LINE
• Lynn was Notre Dame’s representative on the ACC Preseason Watch List and was ranked No. 33 in TopDrawerSoccer’s midseason top 100 players rankings.
• Lynn paces all active Irish players in career goals with 30.
• Lynn became the 12th player in program history to reach the 30 career goal mark.
• The senior leads the team in goals (9) and points (22) on the year.
• The forward has nine goals and four assists on the season.
• Lynn was named All-ACC First Team for the second straight year by the league coaches.
• The forward enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign, scoring a career-high 10 goals to lead the Irish attack.
• Lynn has led the Irish in goals and points in each of the last two seasons.
BALANCED ATTACK
• Nineteen different Irish players have registered at least one point this season, as the team has totaled 143 on the season.
• Fifteen players have scored a goal through 22 matches, with 11 scoring multiple goals.
• Dawson McCartney and Paddy Burns are tied for the team lead in assists with five each while Jack Lynn, Ethan O’Brien and Daniel Russo are tied for second with four each. Matthew Roou, Ben Giacobello and Matthew McLaughlin each have three.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
• The Irish have received significant contributions from the 2021 freshman class.
• Fourteen of Notre Dame’s 50 goals have been scored by freshmen.
• Matthew Roou ranks tied for second on the team in goals scored with seven while Eno Nto is fourth on the squad with five goals to his name.
• Michael Rossi scored two goals in his debut season.
• Josh Ramsey has played in all 22 games, including 21 starts for Notre Dame this season at the center back position.
• Nto and Roou both scored goals in their first career starts, coming in the 2-0 win over NIU.
• Kyle Genenbacher has also logged minutes in 20 matches this season.
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP REWIND
• The Irish captured its first ACC Championship title in program history with a 2-0 win over Duke in Cary, North Carolina.
• Dawson McCartney scored a brace in the title game and totaled three goals over the four tournament matches to earn ACC Championship MVP honors.
• Jack Lynn, Bryan Dowd and Philip Quinton joined McCartney on the ACC All-Tournament Team.
• The Irish didn’t allow a goal over the four games, becoming the first team to accomplish the feat when playing in four games and the sixth to ever finish the ACC Championships with no goals allowed.
• Notre Dame advanced past NC State (1-0), Louisville (0-0, 3-0 penalties), and Pitt (2-0) to get to the title game.
• The Irish snapped Pitt’s 19-match home winning streak with the 2-0 win in the semifinal round.