CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 10/3 University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team dropped its first match of the season Saturday in a 1-0 double-overtime loss to open Atlantic Coast Conference play against undefeated No. 11/13 Clemson at Riggs Field in Clemson, South Carolina.
The Irish allowed the game’s lone goal less than two minutes into the second overtime, as the Tigers’ Claire Wagner sneaked a shot from 20 yards out on the left side past goalkeeper Kaela Little after Notre Dame could not clear the ball out of the defensive third. The Clemson goal came after the Irish had dominated the second half and first overtime, owning an 11-6 edge in shots in that span.
In total, the Irish (7-1-1, 0-1-0 ACC) outshot the Tigers (7-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC) 15-13 and had a 5-3 edge in shots on goal. Clemson kept the advantage in corner kicks, 6-2.
Freshman forward Natalie Jacobs led the Irish with five shots and a shot on goal, while senior attacker Anna Maria Gilbertson fired three shots and two shots on goal. Defender Brittany Von Rueden, forward Kaleigh Olmsted and midfielder Taylor Klawunder recorded two shots apiece.
The Irish got off to a quick start, firing four shots in the first 15 minutes of the match before the Tigers could record a shot of their own. Notre Dame’s best scoring chance of the half came in the ninth minute when off a set piece, when Von Rueden fired a free kick in from 30 yards and the Irish batted the ball around the goalie box, resulting in three shots. Defender Katie Naughton fired in a header that was saved by keeper Kailen Sheridan, while midfielder Sandra Yu and Jacobs each had rebound opportunities before Jacobs’ chance went wide.
From there the Tigers surged, getting off seven shots in the final 28 minutes of the half to take a 7-4 shot advantage into halftime. In the 21st minute, Clemson’s Abby Jones drove toward the goal into the goalie box, but a sliding Cari Roccaro cleared the ball away while Little assisted on the play.
Later in the half, the Tigers took an out-of-bounds play near their own goal, with the resulting throw-in bouncing high around the net. Hitting the ground just inside the right side of the goalie box, the ball bounced just in front of Little, who batted the ball over the net to save a goal in the 35th minute.
Notre Dame looked livelier on offense as the second half commenced, getting off six shots in the first 25 minutes of the half while once again keeping the Tigers away from their goal in that span. The best two chances came off the foot of Anna Maria Gilbertson, but both were saved by Sheridan.
The Irish held 4-2 edge in shots on goal in regulation, but it wasn’t enough to avoid overtime. Notre Dame outshot Clemson 5-0 in the first overtime period, as well, but the Tigers forced the second extra session.
Little spent all 101:27 in goal for the Irish, recording two saves.
The Irish return to action at 7 p.m. ET Thursday when they travel to No. 1 Virginia (6-0-1, 0-0-0 ACC). They will then return home to face No. 2 Florida State (7-1-0, 0-0-0 ACC) on Sunday at Alumni Stadium.
#11/13 Clemson 1, #10/3 Notre Dame 0
Sept. 19, 2015
Clemson, S.C. (Riggs Field)
Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 – 0
Clemson 0 0 0 1 – 1
CU1. Claire Wagner (-) 101:27.
Total Shots: ND 15 (4-6-5-0), CU 13 (7-4-0-2)
Shots on Goal: ND 5, CU 3
Saves: ND 2 (Kaela Little 2 in 101:27), CU 5 (Kailen Sheridan 5 in 101:27)
Corner Kicks: ND 2 (0-2-0-0), CU 6 (3-3-0-0)
Fouls: ND 14, CU 18
Offsides: ND 4, CU 1
Yellow Cards: ND 1 (Anna Maria Gilbertson), 71:30
Attendance: 563
Records: ND 7-1-1, 0-1-0 ACC; CU 7-0-1, 1-0-0 ACC
Next for ND: vs. Virginia (6-0-1, 0-0-0 ACC) at 7 p.m. ET Thursday in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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— Joanne Norell, Athletics Communications Assistant
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