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No. 16 Irish Down Western Michigan, 2-0No. 16 Irish Down Western Michigan, 2-0
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Leah Klenke
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Maddie Mercado
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Olivia Wingate
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Korbin Albert

No. 16 Irish Down Western Michigan, 2-0

ND moves to 2-0 on the year
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Leah Klenke
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Maddie Mercado
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Olivia Wingate
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Waniya Hudson
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Korbin Albert

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 16 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (2-0) certainly had a Sunday Funday at Alumni Stadium, showing off in front of 1,655 fans in a 2-0 victory over Western Michigan (0-2). 

Senior forward Maddie Mercado picked up her second career brace and first goals of the 2022 season. Mercado’s first goal came via a header in the 23rd minute from a beautiful cross from freshman Leah Klenke. Then Mercado’s second came in the 58th minute via penalty kick. 

The real story here was the shot differential, 34-0 in Notre Dame’s favor, including 16 shots on goal. All-in-all, through two games this season, the Irish have not allowed a single shot on net and just one shot total.

How It Happened

Western Michigan’s goalie Hannah Sargent had a career day with 13 saves for she was under duress for most of the contest. Olivia Wingate and Leah Klenke combined for nine shots on the day and both nearly found the back in the net in the early going. 

Notre Dame’s first goal in the 23rd minute started with a great step up read from Waniya Hudson, who kept the ball in Western Michigan’s half and poked it up to Klenke on the right wing. Klenke then connected on a beautiful cross to Mercado, just outside the six-yard box, who headed it far post and in. 

Klenke, who scored in the season opener on Thursday, already has three points now on her freshman year resume. 

The final 20 minutes of the first half saw the return of Korbin Albert, who was with the USA U20 squad in Costa Rica. Albert made an immediate impact, connecting off the crossbar twice. She ultimately finished with five shots on the day. 

Albert continued to make defenders miss and fall to the ground in the second half, as a pass to Van Zanten led to a cross to Mercado who nearly found a second header goal just eight minutes in. 

Notre Dame’s second goal came thanks to Bri Martinez. She blew past a defender in the box on the right side and was then tackled by a second defender, resulting in a penalty kick. Mercado stepped up and delivered, notching her ninth career goal. 

Up Next

A tough battle with Saint Louis on the road on Thursday, Aug. 25, awaits. The Billikens knocked off No. 8 Arkansas in their season opener. First kick is at 8 pm ET.

— ND —