WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 12 Notre Dame women’s soccer (6-0) continued its torrid stretch through its non-conference schedule with a 3-1 victory over Purdue (3-4) on the road. The Irish are now a win away from its first perfect non-conference slate since 2008.
For the second consecutive match, the Irish regrouped from a 0-0 halftime score and scored all of its goals in the second half. Maddie Mercado scored the opening goal in the 59th minute which marked her team-best fifth goal of the season. The senior has already tied her career-high mark of five goals from last season just six games into the 2022-23 campaign.
The second Notre Dame goal came from Kiki Van Zanten just 35 seconds later. It marked Van Zanten’s first of the season and 15th of her career.
The third and final goal was delivered by Korbin Albert in the 83rd minute, marking her second of the season and 14th of her young career.
All-in-all, the Irish outshot the Boilermakers 29-6, including 7-3 in shots on goal. Junior Ashley Naylor started in goal and needed just two saves thanks to the stout Irish defense.
How It Happened
Notre Dame maintained most of the first half possession in Purdue’s half of the field. In fact, the Irish did not surrender a shot on goal in the first half and outshot Purdue 10-3 overall. However, the first half frustration came with just three shots on net for the Irish, which came from Van Zanten, Ellie Ospeck and Olivia Wingate.
The best Irish scoring chance came around the 17-minute mark when Bri Martinez sent a dangerous low cross from the right side and it just missed a stretching leg from Wingate.
With the second half starting 0-0, the Irish finally broke through in the 59th minute. It started with Van Zanten who launched a missile from deep that hit off the crossbar. Yet, the ball found the feet of Mercado in the middle of the box who took a touch and fired it home for the goal.
GOAAAALLLL @maddiemercadoo!!!!
ND 1 – Purdue 0 | 59'#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/UeywIaoRKG
— ND Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) September 9, 2022
Then just a mere 35 seconds later the Irish found the back of the net again as Van Zanten finally got hers. Berkley Mensik registered her first career assist as Van Zanten one-timed a right-footed shot that found the left corner perfectly.
GOOOAAAALLLL @kikivanzantenn!!!!!
Irish score 2 goals within 35 seconds of each other!
ND 2 – PUR 1 | 27:26 left#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/NlvB9YV815
— ND Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) September 9, 2022
The Boilermakers did get one back in the 62nd minute off an unfortunate touch from an Irish defender that sent the ball over Naylor to a sprinting Kayla Budish of Purdue.
Albert then added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute. The sophomore beat a defender 1-v-1 then fired a shot from about 21 yards out. The low dart skirted past the keeper and in.
GOALLLLLL @Korbinalbert2!!!!
Albert doing Albert things!
ND 3 – PUR 1 | 6 min left#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/sPRL7XFnXj
— ND Women's Soccer (@NDSoccer) September 9, 2022
Up Next
The Irish close out the non-conference slate with Ohio at home on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. ET. U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and Irish alumna Shannon Boxx will be in attendance and signing autographs after the game.