SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-5-4, 4-4-0) battled right to the very end in the ACC Championship First Round, falling to Virginia (7-6-4, 3-3-2) with a final score of 2-2 as the Cavaliers advanced by winning penalty kicks 5-4.
It was back-and-forth action between the two squads as both Notre Dame and Virginia were able to capitalize on scoring opportunities with four total goals scored alone in the first half. From then on, a scoreless second half resulted in two overtime periods in South Bend and eventually, a penalty shootout.
Junior Will Schroeder scored his first career goal for Notre Dame’s first goal of the night and was followed by freshman Tristan Tropeano, who has now scored a team-best six goals this season.
Junior goalkeeper Blake Kelly finished with two saves on the night and made two big saves in the penalty shootout as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting out, Sean McDowd would have an early opportunity in just the 3rd minute of play as the ball fell to his feet just outside of the box after a Notre Dame freekick. His right-footed strike would hit the left post for the first look of the night.
In the 14th minute, however, the Irish would put a goal on the board. Ian Shaul’s corner kick to the far post was met by Will Schroeder, whose header would land just above the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put the Irish in front 1-0.
Just 56 seconds later, the Cavaliers would respond with a goal of their own on a quick touch in the six-yard box off a Virginia free kick. It was an even 1-all in the 15th minute.
It wouldn't take long for the Irish to strike back as they had another opportunity to regain the lead in the 21st minute. On another Shaul corner kick, the delivery to the near post gave Tropeano the opportunity for a quick touch to the opposite corner of the net. His goal put the Irish back in front at 2-1.
Despite the Irish having some chances to widen the lead, the Cavaliers remained persistent in their efforts as they would find the equalizer in the 29th minute to level the score at 2-all heading into halftime.
Notre Dame was on the hunt for the go-ahead goal right from the start in the second half. In the 46th minute, the Irish had some opportunities from Nico Bartlett and Ren Sylvester, but Bartlett’s shot was deflected and Sylvester’s landed high of the target.
Shortly after in the 52nd minute, Bartlett attacked into the right side of the box as he sent it to the feet of Sylvester in the six-yard box. Sylvester’s shot was saved to keep it at a level 2-all.
In the 74th, Karson Baquero delivered a ball into the box from a corner kick where Schroeder was fouled in the box for a penalty kick, but the Irish were unable to convert on the penalty kick opportunity.
Baquero would place another beautiful ball into the box off the corner kick shortly after in the 82nd minute, but the Brady Hilden header would land just inches above the crossbar.
The Cavaliers had just their second shot of the half in the 87th minute, but the shot was blocked to keep it at an even 2-2 and eventually, would go into overtime in South Bend.
In the 93rd minute, the Cavaliers had a chance on a corner kick where their header to the far post missed just wide of the goal.
On the counterattack, Bartlett attacked up the midfield where he found Tropeano and Flanagan, but the Cavalier keeper would come off of his line to make the stop in Notre Dame’s two-on-one opportunity.
Virginia would fire it from 20 yards out in the 99th minute, but a jumping effort from Kelly secured the save as they headed into the second overtime period.
Hilden had the first look of the second overtime period as he shot it from the penalty arc, but the Cavalier keeper made an impressive save to prevent the golden goal. Tropeano would follow in the 104th minute with a shot of his own, but his attempt was off target.
In the 108th minute, a yellow card on Virginia would give the Irish a free kick from 30 yards out. Walent fired it just high of the crossbar on the free kick opportunity, and with two scoreless overtimes, the Irish and Cavaliers were on to penalty kicks.
The Cavaliers secured their way to the ACC Championship Quarterfinals by winning penalty kicks 5-4.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the match…
“What a tremendous performance from our guys tonight. I’m heartbroken for them because I thought they played exceptionally well against a very good Virginia team. Soccer can be a cruel game at times, but this group should hold their heads high and be incredibly proud of their performance. I love this team and couldn’t be prouder of the way they competed and represented Notre Dame tonight.”
Notre Dame Shooting Summary
- MISS - #19 Vlad Walent
- MISS - #12 Ethan Scala
- MAKE - #6 Ian Shaul
- MAKE - #13 Tristan Tropeano
- MAKE - #11 Jack Flanagan
- MAKE - #5 Will Schroeder
- MISS - #4 Jack Ross
Virginia Shooting Summary
- MISS - #9 AJ Smith
- MISS - #21 Marco Dos Santos
- MAKE - #7 Arnold Matshazi
- MAKE - #8 Brendan Lambe
- MAKE - #17 Bacary Tandjigora
- MAKE - #4 Alex Parvu
- MAKE - #11 Sami Oulouheu