Irish Remain Undefeated with 4-0 Win over Illinois

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. – With a 4-0 victory over Illinois on Sunday, the (RV) Notre Dame ladies’s soccer staff (4-0) stays undefeated on the season, enhancing to 4-0 with an 11-0 purpose mixture. The Combating Irish protection has now posted 4 shutout victories to begin the season, tying the second finest shutout streak to begin the yr (Essentially the most was eight in 1995). 

The Irish protection solely allowed three photographs on purpose on Sunday and have solely allowed 4 all season. All-in-all, Notre Dame outshot Illinois 27-8, registering 17 photographs on web. 

Finest a part of the 4 targets right now was that it got here from 4 totally different gamers: Katie Coyle, Ellie Ospeck, Maddie Mercado and Leah Klenke. 

Mercado now leads the staff with three targets and she or he’s adopted proper behind by Leah Klenke who now boasts two targets and one help by way of her first 4 collegiate video games. 

In the meantime, Ospeck notched her second profession purpose in an Irish uniform and Coyle nabbed her third.  

How It Occurred

The Irish boasted practically 70 % of the possession of the match and have been in management early on. In actual fact, beginning keeper Ashley Naylor solely wanted to make two saves on the afternoon. 

The Irish broke by way of within the thirty third minute because of Katie Coyle. Olivia Wingate picked up the help as she sped by way of the left facet of the field and located Coyle close to the highest who one-timed it in for the purpose. 

The second purpose beat the halftime clock. With 12 seconds left within the first half, Paige Peltier fired off a tough shot because the Illinois keeper needed to make a diving save. Ready on the far submit left alone by the Illini protection was Ellie Ospeck who tucked it away for her first purpose of 2022. 

Irish followers didn’t have to attend lengthy within the second half for extra targets, as Maddie Mercado delivered lower than two minutes in. Kiki Van Zanten had a header shot attemp that was blocked, however Mercado was capable of choose up the unfastened ball and put it away within the upper-90 for the purpose. 

Subsequent, Notre Dame saved its flashiest purpose for final through Leah Klenke. The freshman beat her defender 1-on-1, and from about eight yards left outdoors the field, she fired one in because it soared over the keeper and tucked it superbly within the far nook. 

Up Subsequent

The Irish are gifted one other alternative to problem a ranked opponent through No. 24 Wisconsin. That matchup will happen Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7 pm ET, inside Alumni Stadium.

— ND —