SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 3 Notre Dame women’s soccer (1-0-1) left no doubt in game number two of the young 2023 season, rolling to a 3-0 victory over Ball State (1-1-0) on Sunday afternoon. Three different Irish players got in on the goal scoring, including two which came from set pieces.
The Irish received first half goals from senior captain Eva Gaetino and freshman forward Meg Mrowicki. Then in the closing minutes, Sophia Fisher capped it off for her first goal of the season. Fisher played all 90 minutes in her first collegiate start.
For Gaetino, it marked her first first of the season and third of her career. For Mrowicki, it was her first goal in an Irish uniform, and it also marked the second straight game in which a freshman found the back of the net.
Also worth noting that graduate student Erin Hohnstein finished with two assists on the day, coming off the bench.
Defensively, the Fighting Irish only surrendered one shot on goal to earn their first shoutout of the season. For reference, last year’s squad earned a stout 14 shutouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first near Irish scoring chance happened 12 minutes into the match and it was almost a near replica of Kiki Van Zanten’s assist from the season opener on Thursday. Van Zanten diced past a couple of Ball State defenders and hit a low cross to Maddie Mercado, but the Cardinals goalie met Mercado at the ball at the same time.
Fast forward to the 22nd minute and the Irish got on the scoreboard off a corner kick. Gaetino, always a threat when in the box, positioned herself well around the middle of the six-yard box. After shot attempts from Mercado and Leah Klenke, Gaetino found the ball and tucked it away for her third career goal.
Goal number two occurred in the 39th minute, starting with a perfect through ball from Erin Hohnstein into the right side of the box. Audrey Weiss met it in stride then crossed to Mrowicki in the middle of the box who delivered it into the corner for the goal.
The Irish then took the 2-0 lead into half, boasting a 5-1 shots on goal advantage.
Early in the second half, the Irish attack kept getting behind the line of the Cardinal defense. Charlie Codd posed as a problem for Ball State, slotting multiple through balls, including a dangerous one to Mercado in the 64th minute.
In the 74th minute, Mercado had a beautiful heel pass that just missed Codd who was searching for her first goal. Codd came close again in the 80th minute off a great cross and feed from Klenke from the left side.
Fisher’s goal arrived in the 84th minute off a corner kick from Chayse Ying. Hohnstein had the first crack on net as the rebound found Fisher who tucked it away.
Up next, the Irish will remain at home for two more games inside Alumni Stadium next week. First, Notre Dame will host Butler on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. ET. Then, they’ll welcome in Arkansas on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m.
– ND –