The No. 6 Fighting Irish opened Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play tonight as they traveled to Raleigh to face longtime opponent NC State. Notre Dame defeated NC State 2-1, with the game-winning goal scored by sophomore forward Annabelle Chukwu.
The Wolfpack’s season is off to a similar start as last year, with only one win and two draws heading into tonight’s matchup. Despite their record, NC State has proven they should not be counted out against ranked opponents based on their draw when they faced the Irish last season. Tensions were high heading into tonight’s game, the Irish with a record to protect and the Wolfpack with something to prove.
The Irish have been hot, with tonight’s victory marking five consecutive wins against tough opponents across conferences, defeating Cincinnati, Michigan, Oakland and Michigan State before adding NC State to the list.
The Wolfpack opened scoring eight minutes in with a goal by midfielder Emily Wong, despite the Irish dominating the minutes prior with four shots on goal. The goal ignited the Wolfpack, marking the start of their offensive efforts. The Wolfpack was halted with two back-to-back fouls by midfielder Mary Frances Symmes, giving the Irish the change in pace necessary to secure their offensive position. 21 minutes in, Notre Dame made a substitution which placed sophomore forward Lily Joseph in, where she generated two shots on goal for the Irish.
Not even a yellow card on senior midfielder Laney Matriano stopped the Irish’s scoring efforts, utilizing previous chemistry with corner kicks to make Wolfpack goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas work even harder to stop the Irish’s attacks on net. Notre Dame’s continued attack paid off at the 38 minute mark with the tying goal by sophomore midfielder Izzy Engle, assisted by Matriano. The Irish continued to maintain possession and a superior offense until the end of the half, with NC State giving up a foul and a yellow card they could not afford.
When the buzzer rang, signaling the end of the half, both teams left the field frustrated but for different reasons. NC State was making small fundamental mistakes they should not have, from simple turnovers to aggressive plays that did not correct their efforts on offense. Despite tying the game, Notre Dame was unable to maintain a lead however, this season Notre Dame has had a knack for performing their best in the second half, especially against tougher opponents like Michigan and Michigan State.
The second half was defined by intense defensive rushes and an emphasis on scoring drives, with both teams giving up four fouls each. The Irish continued their attack with corner kicks to penetrate Pratapas’ weak side. Both teams seemed less hesitant to take shots, the Irish with 14 and the Wolfpack with six. Goalkeepers Pratapas for NC State and sophomore goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica for the Irish were put to the test by making creative saves despite the score still remaining tied.
At the 85 minute mark, the named Top Drawer Scorer of the Week, Chukwu landed a stunning goal to give the Irish the lead for the first time in tonight’s match. Chukwu was assisted by junior midfielder Morgan Roy. The Irish maintained their lead within the remaining four minutes of the game, delivering NC State their sixth loss of the season.
Tonight’s victory proved the Irish were not afraid to create unorthodox offensive plays, suggesting the possibility Notre Dame’s coaches used tonight as an opportunity to test their team’s chemistry in a game that would not make or break their season. Although emerging victorious, the Irish did not emerge with the score they anticipated.
Notre Dame’s early excellence has been aided greatly by Kasica, who has only allowed two goals since the 2-2 draw against Arkansas in mid-August. The Irish have a strong core of goalkeepers who have provided the steady presence the Irish need in the net.
The No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish take the field next against the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils at home Sept. 18, a game that will test the offensive chemistry of Notre Dame. The Irish will go into the game with a sense of pressure to maintain their win-streak and must use their home-field advantage to generate offense as soon as possible. If the Irish wait until the second half to score most of their goals, as their season trend has shown, the Blue Devils offense may get an early lead. But the Irish consistency has proven itself dependable this season, a core facet of their play Notre Dame hope to continue.
