Notre Dame men’s soccer returns to the pitch Thursday evening to play host to the Oregon State Beavers.
Entering play at 0-0-2, the Irish ended both of their first two matches level, but despite the identical results, the value of each match varied significantly. Eighth-year head coach Chad Riley’s side opened the season with an impressive 1-1 draw in Ann Arbor against rival Michigan. Despite being outshot, Notre Dame hung tough with a 2024 NCAA Tournament team that returned numerous contributors. The Irish followed that result up with a lackluster 0-0 tie in the Alumni Stadium season opener against IU Indy. The Jaguars won just five matches last season, but senior goalkeeper Cameron Maung-Maung turned away all five Notre Dame chances.
Despite being left to rot in the remnants of the once-proud Pac-12 conference, Oregon State men’s soccer remains a prideful program. Having to build a competitive schedule as an independent for the first time in 2024, the Beavers missed the postseason, but much like the Irish, were a participant in the 2023 College Cup. After being elevated to head coach last offseason, Jarred Brookins guided the Beavers to a 2-0 start to 2025, collecting impressive victories at home over UC Santa Barbara (3-0) and Washington (2-1). Brookins replaced Greg Dalby, a former standout midfielder and assistant coach for the Irish, who left Corvallis to become Air Force’s leader.
Redshirt sophomore defender Iker Carbonell García is the playmaking engine for Oregon State. Despite playing primarily out of the back third, García has assisted on four of the Beavers’ five goals thus far. Sophomore goalkeeper John Nicolson has made three saves on the season, while collecting one clean sheet.
For the Irish, graduate defender Diego Ochoa is the lone goal-scorer, having found the back of the net in the 27th minute of his debut, putting home a nice feed from sophomore midfielder Ian Shaul. Sophomore netminder Blake Kelly recorded three saves against the Wolverines and four saves against IU Indy.
Thursday’s contest at Alumni Stadium is set for an 8:30 p.m. first touch as the second leg of a doubleheader in conjunction with the women’s team and its earlier match against Michigan. Streaming for both matches will be available on ACCNX.
