Tennessee
Women's Soccer
Wisconsin
Northwestern
| NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals: | #4 Notre Dame (14-3-4) |
|---|---|
| Opponent: | #3 Stanford (15-4-2) |
| Where: | Stanford, CA | Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium |
| When: | Friday, Nov. 29 | 5 pm ET |
| Watch: | ESPN+ |
| Social: | NDWSOC Twitter NDWSOC Instagram |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – High expectations abound for the 2023 rendition of the Notre Dame women’s soccer team, who enters the year ranked No. 3 in the country. The Fighting Irish finished one win shy of reaching the College Cup in 2022, dropping a 2-0 decision to ACC foe UNC. They also were one win against Duke away from a share of the ACC regular-season championship and one penalty shoot kickout away from their first ACC Tournament final appearance.
Notre Dame will begin its 2023 journey on Thursday, Aug. 17, at home against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Panthers were selected to finish first in the Horizon League this season. A year ago, Milwaukee claimed both the regular-season title and Horizon League Tournament crown for the fifth consecutive year, making their 16th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Kickoff on Thursday is set for 7 p.m. ET inside Alumni Stadium. Gates open an hour before first touch and admission is free.
2022 Irish Highlights
- A 17-3-3 record – Coach Norman’s most wins at the helm of the program. Also went 6-2-3 against top-25 ranked teams
- First No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed since 2008
- First NCAA Quarterfinal Round appearance since 2012
- Knocked off two top-three teams during the regular season for the first time in program history (No. 2 Virginia & No. 3 FSU)
- ACC Coach of the Year, ACC Midfielder of the Year (Korbin Albert) and ACC Defender of the Year (Eva Gaetino). Notre Dame tied its most-ever All-ACC selections with five
- Notre Dame went unbeaten in its last 12 matches before the NCAA Quarterfinal loss to North Carolina. They outscored its opposition 33-6 in that stretch.
- Irish posted a +40 goal margin – its best since 2010. They recorded 2.43 goals per match – its best since 2008.
- Three players (Albert, Wingate, Mercado) posted 10 or more goals for the first time since 2006.
The Anchor of the Backline Returns
The ACC Defender of the Year, First Team All-American and Mac Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, Eva Gaetino returns for her senior year, once again anchoring the three-woman backline in the center. This time around, Gaetino will be sporting the captain armband alongside Kiki Van Zanten.
Gaetino will once again be joined by ring-back and graduate student Waniya Hudson. Sophomore Leah Klenke will look to move up from left-back to left-wing midfield, as that spot is up for grabs.
Notre Dame’s defensive line was absolutely stingy last season. First off, they completed 14 shutouts on the year – their most since 2016 (15). Their shutout percentage of 0.609 ranked 8th in the country and first in the ACC.
The backline only allowed 16 goals. Furthermore, they only allowed 70 shots on goal over 23 games – which equates to a stout 3.0 SOG per game. There were seven games last year in which they only allowed one SOG or fewer.
Lastly, the Irish posted a six-match shutout streak which tied for the third longest in program history.
Van Zanten Returns After World Cup Experience
The Jamaican National Team made history at the 2023 World Cup, becoming the first Caribbean nation to advance to the Round of 16. On said team, none other than Notre Dame captain and graduate student Kiki Van Zanten. Van Zanten even earned a start in the Round of 16 against Colombia, adding to her unforgettable experience.
Van Zanten was the 9th Irish player to suit up for a national team at a World Cup and the first for Jamaica. Irish-USA alums include Kate Markgraf, Holly Manthei and Shannon Boxx.
In the year prior, in the women’s CONCACAF Championship Tournament, Van Zanten scored the game-winning goal for Jamaica in the bronze medal game. That win secured a spot for Jamaica in the Olympics play-in game later this year.
Collegiately speaking, Van Zanten is coming off a year in which she tied her career high in goals (7) and set new career highs in game-winners (3), assists (4) and points (18).
More From Mercado
In a preseason interview with Fighting Irish Media, Mercado said she wants one part of her legacy to be setting the goal for yourself to get better each and every year. And to put that into perspective, last year was Mercado’s best in an Irish uniform. She scored a career-best 10 goals up top, which ranked 8th in the ACC and third on the team. She also set a new career high in game-winners with four, which included the 1-0 victory over No. 2 Virginia. Lastly, she tied her career high in assists with four, to total a new career best of 24 points.
With that said, what a preseason it has been for Mercado. With exhibitions against Virginia and Valpo, she has recorded back-to-back braces.
Becoming More of An Offensive Threat
Speaking of expanded roles, look for the growth in sophomore Leah Klenke. Last season, she was named the 7th best freshman in the country by Top Drawer Soccer and made their Freshman Best XI First Team. She also earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors. She started all 23 games as a freshman at left-back and even added two goals and two assists to her name. This year, Klenke looks to get a little more offensive, pushing up into the left-wing midfield position.
Klenke is also coming off a summer where she helped the USA U20 squad win the U20 CONCACAF championship.
Irish Lynch-pin
Irish fans will have to wait no more to see their hometown girl on the pitch this season. Florida State transfer, national champion, and Granger, Indiana, native, Kristina Lynch will be back in action for the 2023 season – expected to start in the midfield on the right wing.
Lynch missed all of last season rehabbing an ankle injury sustained in the preseason.
At FSU, she was a two-time NCAA champion (2018 & 2021). She played in 77 games as a Seminole, including 51 starts. She scored a total of 12 goals, with three assists, good for 27 points. The most notable goal at Florida State – scored the game-winning goal in the ACC Championship over North Carolina in 2018.
Home Sweet Home
Alumni Stadium is becoming one of the most difficult venues for opposing programs to earn a result in. Since its creation in 2009, Notre Dame has gone 119-29-8 (.789). Over the last 2 seasons – an impressive 21-3-3 record inside Alumni
At home in the NCAA Tournament, and why it’s so important to earn a No. 1 seed – Irish are 15-1-1 in NCAA Tournament games at Alumni. Overall, they are 50-4-1 at home in NCAA Tourney games.
WHO’S IN NET?
2022 starting goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood is now with the Chicago Red Stars, leaving the starting position in net up for grabs. The Irish have two seniors and two freshmen on the roster vying for the spot.
Senior Ashley Naylor brings the most experience. Over the past two seasons, she’s posted a 14-6-1 record. She was the main starter in 2021, when she notched a GAA of 1.04. A season ago, she made one of the most impressive saves of the year in the closing minutes of the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament over Santa Clara.
— ND —