SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The third-seeded Notre Dame women’s soccer team outshot Valparaiso 33-1 on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With a huge shot disparity on their side, the Fighting Irish (12-3-4) advanced via a 2-0 victory over the Beacons (11-6-6).
With the victory, the Irish improved to 51-4-1 at home in the NCAA Tournament. In addition, they earned their 50th all-time clean sheet in NCAA Tournament history.
Both goals came in the second half with Ellie Ospeck netting the first and the official game-winner. Her marked her fifth goal of the season and third game-winner, as the latter ties Maddie Mercado for the team lead. Ospeck now boasts a career best 17 points, which ranks second on the team. The senior forward also netted her first career NCAA Tournament goal.
Both Morgan Roy and Charlie Codd registered assists on the goal on a solid buildup down the right side of the field.
The second goal arrived in the 83rd minute with Codd finding the back of the net, ending her night with three points. Kiki Van Zanten notched the assist.
Now, the Irish will travel to Fayetteville where the No. 2 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks will host a four-team regional starting next Friday. First Notre Dame will challenge the winner of LSU/Memphis in the second round.
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were plenty of chances it could have been 1-0 Notre Dame in the first half. First, there was a cross on the ground from Leah Klenke on the left side which found Charlie Codd wide open and alone on the far right side of the six-yard box. Yet, she pushed her shot wide and to the right. Two minutes later, Kiki Van Zanten hit a missile from distance in which Valpo’s goalkeeper needed to make a diving save to her right.
In the 18th minute, Ellie Ospeck flashed her speed and blew by two defenders to get a left-footed shoot from inside the box, forcing the keeper to make another tough diving save.
In the 29th minute, Van Zanten fired off a left-footed shot from the top of the 18 and Valpo’s Nikki Coryell made a save but couldn’t hold on. The rebound almost found Kristina Lynch who just subbed into the game.
When the clock hit zero for halftime, it was still 0-0 inside Alumni Stadium as the frustrated Irish boasted an 18-0 shot differential, including a 7-0 shots on goal advantage.
The goal finally arrived in the 49th minute. It started with Codd finding Morgan Roy streaking down the right side. Roy then crossed to the middle of the box to Ospeck who one-timed it in between the goalie’s legs for the goal.
Mercado was searching for that third straight game with a goal and nearly had it in the 65th minute. The graduate hit a left-footed shot that struck off the right post.
Codd came close again in the 79th minute. With a step on her defender in the box, Codd’s shot hit off the left post as the Beacons then cleared the rebound. Codd, who had six shots in the match, finally found it in the 83rd minute to give the Irish some cushion and the eventual 2-0 win.
— ND –