CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – It was another overtime heartbreaker for the No. 15 Notre Dame women’s soccer team (12-4-1, 6-3-0), a second in a three-day span, dropping a 2-1 decision at No. 7 North Carolina (11-2-3, 4-2-3). The Fighting Irish scored the opening goal and took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute, but the Tar Heels rallied with goals in the 78th minute and then in double-overtime (101st minute).
Senior Olivia Wingate scored the lone Irish goal, marking her fifth of the season. Both Sammi Fisher and Korbin Albert registered assists on the play.
The loss marked the first loss of the season when the Irish had scored first, entering today’s matchup with an 11-0-0 mark in those instances.
How It Happened
The Irish almost got on the scoreboard in the 11th minute courtesy of Brooke VanDyck and Sammi Fisher. VanDyck slashed through a couple of UNC defenders before finding Fisher in the middle of the box. Fisher took just one touch too many, allowing a Tar Heel defender to recover and block the shot.
Notre Dame kept up the pressure, as Korbin Albert and Bri Martinez each recorded shots over the next 10 minutes.
Ultimately, the first half shot totals were 7-5 in North Carolina’s favor at the half, but the shot disparity changed for the remainder as the Tar Heels went on to outshoot the Irish 15-5 in the second half plus the two overtimes.
Despite the stats, it was Notre Dame who struck first in the 58th minute. Albert led a counterattack and had a beautiful give-and-go sequence between herself and Fisher before finding Wingate behind the UNC defense for the goal.
Notre Dame goalkeeper Ashley Naylor did her part in keeping the North Carolina offense at bay, registering three saves in the final 10 minutes. All-in-all, Naylor recorded nine saves in the match.
Up Next
Notre Dame returns home for its regular-season finale and Senior Day on Thursday, Oct. 28. The Irish will host Wake Forest, with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff time.
— ND —