SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Lexington, Kentucky, to face the Wildcats in a non-conference match at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 3. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
NOTRE DAME at No. 16 KENTUCKY
Location: Lexington, Kentucky | Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. Kentucky
THE KENTUCKY SERIES
• The Irish and Wildcats will meet on the pitch for the seventh time on Friday evening.
• The Irish lead the Widlcats in the all-time series at 5-1-0.
• The two sides last played in Lexington during the 1992 season, with the Irish winning by a score of 2-0. The Irish are 2-0 when playing the Wildcats on the road.
• Notre Dame defeated Kentucky in the 2020 season opener at Alumni Stadium, winning by a score of 1-0. Daniel Russo scored the winner in his Fighting Irish debut.
LAST TIME OUT
• Notre Dame recorded its first win of the season on Monday, defeating NIU by a score of 2-0 at Alumni Stadium.
• The Irish goals were scored by freshmen Eno Nto and Matthew Roou, both recording their first collegiate goals in their first career starts.
• Notre Dame’s defense earned its first clean sheet of the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Dowd made five saves to secure the shutout.
• Jack Lynn and Ben Giacobello registered assists in the victory.
• Notre Dame recorded more corners (8-1) and shots (16-10) in the opener against Indiana.
LYNN LEADS THE LINE
• Lynn was Notre Dame’s representative on the ACC Preseason Watch List.
• Lynn paces all active Irish players in career goals with 22 in his Notre Dame career.
• The forward has one goal and one assist through two games this season.
• The senior scored a goal in the 2021 opener against Indiana and has now scored in two of four season openers in his career.
• In the final match of the 2020 fall regular season, Lynn recorded the first hat trick of his career, scoring three times in the first half in the 4-1 win over Louisville.
• 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.
McCartney Makes instant impact
• Dawson McCartney joined Notre Dame for the 2021 spring semester, transferring from Dartmouth.
• McCartney has registered six points in his first eight appearances for the Irish off two goals and two assists.
• The grad student scored in Friday’s season opener against Indiana.
• McCartney now has 10 goals in his collegiate career.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
• The Irish have already received significant contributions from the 2021 freshman class.
• Josh Ramsey has started both games for Notre Dame this season at the center back position.
• Eno Nto and Matthew Roou both scored goals in their first career starts, coming in the 2-0 win over NIU.
• Kyle Genenbacher and Michael Rossi have also logged minutes in both matches this season.
2021 Captains
• Mohamed Omar and Philip Quinton will share the skipper role for the Fighting Irish for the 2021 season.
• Omar has been a staple as a central defensive midfielder over the past three seasons. His 2020-21 campaign was cut short due to an injury that sidelined him for almost all of the spring.
• Omar has racked up 47 appearances for the Irish over the past three seasons, scoring two goals and adding two assists in his career.
• Quinton has been a mainstay in Notre Dame’s defense over the past three seasons at the center back position.
• The 6-foot-6 defender has anchored the Irish back line the last two seasons. Quinton has also managed to record two assists in his collegiate career.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
• The four Irish goals have come from four different players this season, as Jack Lynn, Dawson McCartney, Eno Nto and Matthew Roou have each scored.
• The Irish have attempted more shots and earned more corners in both contests this season.
• Notre Dame has not trailed at all in regulation through two matches.