NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame turned in one of its most comprehensive performances of the season on a cold and rainy Friday night at Alumni Stadium, defeating No. 21 Duke by a final score of 1-0.
Sophomore Jack Lynn scored his career-best seventh goal of the season in the 65th minute and the Notre Dame defense recorded its second straight clean sheet and fifth of the 2019 campaign in the winning effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish and Blue Devils both had scoring chances in the first half, but both goalkeepers were up to the task to keep the match scoreless through the opening 45 minutes. Notre Dame had the ball in the back of the net in the 10th minute, as Aiden McFadden headed home a cross from Jack Lynn but the official ruled McFadden to have fouled a nearby defender to take the goal off the board.
Notre Dame goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull was called into action in the 15th minute, producing an impressive save to keep the match scoreless.
With five minutes left in the first half, Patrick Coleman nearly produced a brilliant goal. The sophomore turned and hit a half volley on frame but the Duke goalkeeper made an excellent diving save to send the match into the half with no score.
The Irish had another look at goal in the 55th minute, as they earned a free kick just inside the final third. Felicien Dumas, the free-kick specialist, had an effort sail just wide of the post, nearly scoring his fourth free-kick goal of the season.
All of the Notre Dame pressure finally paid off in the 65th minute, as the Irish scored the breakthrough goal they had been searching for. Mohammad Abualnadi poked the ball away from a Duke defender just inside the box to Lynn, who took a touch and fired a low shot through the legs of an on-rushing defender and just inside the far post to give Notre Dame the 1-0 lead.
The Irish did a magnificent job of securing the victory in the final 25 minutes of action, as the unit put out fires all over the pitch before the Blue Devils could muster any real chances to come away with the 1-0 win.