CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team got back on track Sunday afternoon with a 6-0 road win over Miami.
Kiki Van Zanten led the way offensively for the Irish, earning her first career hat trick in the win. Sammi Fisher tallied a brace and Olivia Wingate scored the other goal of the match for the Irish. It was the most goals in a match for the Irish since 2015 against Valparaiso.
“I was very proud of the response today,” said head coach Nate Norman. “After Thursday night’s game and all the travel over the weekend it was great to see the team’s resiliency today. Miami is not an easy place to come play so to come here and perform like that shows the character of our team.”
Notre Dame’s defense kept the Hurricanes at bay, holding them without a shot until the 64th minute of the match. The Irish picked up their first shutout on the year after tallying 10 during the 2019 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish started out fast against the Hurricanes, maintaining much of the early possession and the early chances in the offensive third.
On the second corner of the afternoon for the Irish, Miami was called for a handball in the box and a penalty kick ensued for the Irish. Fisher took to the spot and calmly finished it off for the first goal of the game and the first goal of the season for the Irish in the eighth minute.
Just moments later, the Irish struck once again. Fisher started the attack into the offensive third and laid the ball off for Luisa Delgado. Delgado began in her run into the box and right up to the endline before dropping it back to Wingate, who was unmarked right in front of goal. Wingate slotted the ball inside the right post for the goal to increase the Irish lead.
Shortly before the half, Notre Dame added to its lead. Coming off the bench, Van Zanten made a great play to create the opportunity. She dispossessed the Hurricane defender and was 1-v-1 with the keeper. Similar to Wingate, Van Zanten went inside the right post for the third Irish goal in the first half.
Going into the half the Irish defense was stout in the first 45 minutes of play. They limited the Hurricanes to no shots and only three corner kicks in the first half.
In the second half, the Irish kept their foot on the gas and it paid off in the 51st minute. Another great run into the box by Delgado took the attention of the Miami defense. She sent the ball back to Fisher who was unmarked in the middle of the box. Fisher one-timed it into the back of the net for her second goal of the match.
Notre Dame defense kept up the strong effort, not allowing a shot for the Hurricanes until the 64th minute and did not allow the first shot on goal until the 67th minute.
Van Zanten kept the pressure up in the second half and it ultimately led to her second goal of the match. Brook VanDyck had a great ball up as Van Zanten made a run in behind the defense. After a touch got her into the box, Van Zanten beat the keeper for her second career brace.
The game was delayed right after Van Zanten’s goal due to weather in the area and after play resumed, Kiki was at it again. On the left edge of the box, she curled a shot around the keeper and inside the far post for her third goal and first career hat trick. It is the second straight season the Irish have recorded a hat trick after Fisher had one last season against Miami.