The Notre Dame men’s soccer team picked up a crucial ACC 2-0 road win against Pitt on Friday night. Freshman forward Luke Burton and senior forward Wyatt Borso led the way for the Irish with one goal apiece, while junior midfielder Nolan Spicer chipped in with two assists. The Irish were no less proficient in the defensive third, allowing only one shot on target as sophomore goalkeeper Blake Kelly picked up his third clean sheet of the season.
In the 13th minute, senior defender Mitch Ferguson delivered a corner kick that had just enough juice to reach the first man at the near post. The ensuing 50-50 battle sent the ball bouncing to the top of the box, right into the path of Spicer.
Spicer’s left-footed volley indirectly bounced off the chest of Burton and into the back of the net. The goal was certainly an unconventional one, but fortunately for the Irish, they count all the same. It also marks the first of Burton’s career, a big weight off the young forward’s shoulders.
Burton had a stellar game, nearly scoring again after his first goal. However, the Panthers were able to cling on defensively and maintain the 1-0 deficit into the half.
The Irish stampede continued in the second half behind brilliant work from senior midfielder KK Baffour, Spicer and the rest of Notre Dame’s attacking threats. About 20 minutes through the second half, Spicer was at the right place once again as he intercepted a miscued Pitt pass at the top of the 18.
Spicer quickly slipped a well-weighted ball to Borso, whose first touch set him up for a beautiful right-footed finish. Borso ran to the corner flag to celebrate and was greeted by the entirety of the Notre Dame bench.
The Irish’s defense remained strong throughout the rest of the half, and head coach Chad Riley’s team cruised to a 2-0 victory.
With the win, Notre Dame improves to 2-1-2 on the season. The Irish have revived their young 2025 campaign after a rough start, initially drawing Michigan on the road and then IU Indy at home to start the year. Since then, Notre Dame has picked up wins against ranked Oregon State and a Pitt program that has reached six consecutive NCAA tournaments. Sandwiched between those two results is a 1-0 loss to No. 1 Indiana, an impressive result considering the prowess of the Hoosiers’ attack.
Notre Dame now turns its attention to a seven-game home stand, kicked off with a clash against non-conference foe Omaha. The Mavericks are 0-4-2 on the season, having allowed 14 goals to only five scored. They are led by head coach Donovan Dowling.
The game should prove a good test for the Irish, as it’s likely that many depth pieces will play significant minutes if all goes to plan. That plan requires another strong defensive showing, particularly from center backs Ferguson and graduate student Diego Ochoa. The tandem has provided a steady presence in the defensive third for Notre Dame, all while making Kelly’s life a lot simpler.
The midfield also must control the tempo of the game. Sophomore defensive midfielder Will Schroeder has done a great job at stepping into an increased role so far this season. Schroeder’s physical presence, meshed with a strong technique on the ball, makes him one of Notre Dame’s key figures.
Riding lots of momentum into the homestand, Notre Dame knows there’s still plenty of work to do. Riley’s team must be able to take the energy from its win against the Panthers and carry it into a vital stretch of the season. Following its clash against the Mavericks, Notre Dame has dates lined up with the likes of Louisville, SMU and No. 14 Virginia Tech.
Notre Dame vs. Omaha is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Alumni Stadium. Admission is free, and streaming can be found on the ACC Network.
