SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 17th ranked Notre Dame women’s soccer team (9-2-0, 2-2-0) has a simple mission for the week – protect the pitch. The Fighting Irish have two games inside Alumni Stadium this week where they have been very dominant over the past few years. Up first, NC State (7-3-3, 2-2-0) on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 pm ET. Then No. 3 Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Noon.
ND VS NC STATE – THE SERIES
Notre Dame owns a 7-3-0 series advantage over NC State with a 4-0-0 record at home. The series dates back to September of 1992.
Last season, the Irish went into Raleigh and left with a 2-1 victory. It was two freshmen who shone bright with goals from Korbin Albert and Katie Coyle. It marked Coyle’s first career game-winner.
IRISH RESUME
In the updated RPI rankings on Oct. 3, the Irish moved up a spot to No. 3 behind UCLA and Pitt in that order. Notre Dame is 2-1 against the RPI Top-25, 3-2 against the Top-50 and 4-2 against the Top-100.
The Irish boast three ranked wins on the season – No. 19 Saint Louis (road game), No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 2 Virginia.
Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 9th in the country this week.
Now, when it comes to the United Soccer Coaches poll, it seems they don’t know where to place the Irish for this has been the weekly poll progression despite the 9-2-0 record with the above accolades: No. 16 – Unranked – No. 16 – No. 12 – No. 6 – No. 18 – No. 16 – No. 17.
SHOTS ON SHOTS
Notre Dame is averaging 9.9 shots on goal per game, which ranks 4th nationally (1st in ACC). Overall, the Irish are averaging 21.4 shots per game, which ranks 4th nationally as well (1st in the ACC).
In comparison, Notre Dame is up 235-70 (21.4 vs 6.4) over the opposition in total shots. Meanwhile, the shots on goal differential sits at 109-24 (9.9-2.2). All those shots have led to 26 goals on the year, which ranks 39th in the nation, while the scoring offense (2.36) ranks 34th.
Notre Dame’s ability to stretch the field has led to a national ranking of 4th in corner kicks (1st in ACC) – 7.7 per game. Notre Dame has scored twice off corners this season: Sept. 11 vs Ohio, a Gaetino header & Sept. 22 vs Virginia, a Mercado goal off a deflection.
Olivia Wingate — 10th in shots per game (4.4) // 3rd in shots on goal per game (2.8) // 18th in shot accuracy (0.646) // 33rd in goals per game (0.64) // 30th in points per game (1.55)
Maddie Mercado — 4th in game-winning goals (4) // 17th in…