SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 15 Fighting Irish men’s soccer team returned home to Alumni Stadium and put on an impressive performance in a 3-1 win over ACC foe Virginia on Friday evening in front of a packed crowd. The win improves Notre Dame to 5-1-3 on the season and 2-0-1 in ACC play.
Notre Dame’s three goals came from three different players as Matthew Roou, Wyatt Lewis and Eno Nto each found the back of the net in the winning effort.
In goal, Bryan Dowd continued his impressive run of play, making five saves to keep the Cavalier attack in check.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame wasted no time jumping out to an early advantage, as Roou found the back of the net in just the fourth minute to go on top 1-0. Roou nodded in off the cross from Ethan O’Brien following a short corner and the keeper was unable to keep it from crossing the line for the opener.
The Irish defense limited any real threats over the first 45 minutes and then struck right before the half to double their lead to 2-0. KK Baffour sent in a dangerous free kick, which fell to Lewis, who finished through traffic for his first career goal and to put Notre Dame on top 2-0 heading into the halftime break.
Notre Dame came out of the intermission and nearly made it a three-goal lead but Nolan Spicer’s effort was right at the keeper after great buildup play in the final third.
Less than a minute later the visitors got on the board after a cross was deflected in by an Irish player for an own goal, cutting the lead in half to 2-1 in the 50th minute.
The Irish refused to let the lead slip away and ended up sealing the win in the 74th minute. Dowd played a ball long and connected with Nto, who managed to drive into the box and fire in a goal while falling down and a defender draped all over him to make the score 3-1 in the 74th minute.
Notre Dame then saw the game out and came away with the 3-1 win to remain on top of the ACC Coastal table.
McFARLAND FAMILY MEN’S HEAD SOCCER COACH CHAD RILEY’S TAKE
On the performance…
“Really proud of the team. It was a really good performance against a really top team. We know UVA is one of the best teams in the country so we are delighted to get the result and even more delighted to have long spells where I thought we played really well.”
On three different players scoring goals…
“After getting shutout a couple times over the last three games it was important to hit the back of the net. It’s nice that three different scorers got goals but really it’s just nice that we hit the back of the net.”
On the crowd…
“The crowd was tremendous. The green was everywhere and it lifted our guys. We are just thankful for all the students and fans that came out.”
ND STAT OF THE MATCH
Notre Dame’s three goals are the most the team has scored in a meeting with Virginia since the 2015 season, spanning 12 matches. The three goals are tied for the most the Irish have ever scored over the 21 meetings with the Cavaliers.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back in action for an ACC matchup in Raleigh, as they take on NC State at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Dail Soccer Field. The match will air on ACCNX.
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