The Notre Dame women’s soccer team is on the road again this weekend, as it travels down to South Carolina for another Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup, this time against Clemson. Coming off an incredible performance against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels this past Wednesday, the Irish are carrying a lot of momentum into the weekend. he Irish are playing soccer in its finest form: with athleticism, connection and an unstoppable will to win. They look to remain undefeated in ACC play, one of only two teams left in the conference without an ACC loss (the other being Florida State University). This Sunday will be another exciting test for the Irish.
The Clemson Tigers have struggled so far this season, with their overall record sitting at 3-2-5 entering Thursday night. They have also had trouble performing in their conference play this season. They are 0-1-2 in the ACC and have had a tough lineup, hosting the No. 1 team in the nation, the University of Virginia Cavaliers, immediately before hosting the Irish. Their last win came on Sept. 4 against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Their offense struggles to put up points, only netting 12 goals in their first 10 matches this season and finishing three matches unable to net a single goal. Their defense seems to be more in tune, as it has only allowed more than one goal in three games this season. The Tigers' top scorer is Juju Harris, a freshman forward, who has led the team with five goals. Two of the Tigers' goalkeepers have seen time this season, with Addy Holgorsen, a senior, earning more significant minutes this season over redshirt freshman Nona Reason.
The Irish, differently, have been thriving in a way that is remarkable to watch. The sophomore class continued to shine against North Carolina, with three of the four goals being put away by sophomore players (forward Izzy Engle, forward Ellie Hodsden and midfielder Ally Pinto), with the other being scored by freshman forward Tessa Knapp. Sophomore goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica had a season high of five saves against the Tar Heels. There is no sign of slowing down for the Irish heading into this matchup. They can score off of assists as well as carry and score themselves. They are not only highly skilled but are well-conditioned, able to out-hustle their opponents as time winds down. The sheer athleticism the team has been displaying makes them a feared competitor for not only Clemson but their other opponents down the road.
If the Irish can take a win on Sunday, they could have the opportunity to reach the No. 1 ranking in the country. They are currently sitting at No. 2 with an 8-0-1 record. Both the University of Virginia (currently No. 1) and Notre Dame entered Thursday night undefeated, and with extremely difficult strength of schedules. If the Irish come home with a win, there is reason to believe they might become the number one team in the country.
