WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The last regular-season road test awaits No. 5 Notre Dame women’s soccer (13-2-0, 6-2-0) on Sunday, Oct. 23. The obstacle is none other than Wake Forest (9-5-2, 3-5-0). First touch is set for 5 pm ET on ACCNX.
The Irish are looking for their sixth win in a row and to stay atop the ACC leaderboard. Right now, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Florida State are all tied for first with a 6-2 record.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Wake Forest, 9-2-1, and are unblemished in Winston-Salem at 3-0.
NCAA SOCCER COMMITTEE TOP-10
The NCAA women’s soccer committee revelaed its midseason top-10 on Oct. 13 and Notre Dame checked in at No. 3. In fact six of the spots belong to ACC teams.
In order: UCLA, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida State, Virginia, Duke, Arkansas, Pitt, Northwestern
If it were to hold, the Irish could secure their first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since 2008.
IRISH RESUME
In the RPI rankings on Oct. 16, the Irish came in at the No. 4 spot behind Alabama, UCLA and North Carolina.
Notre Dame is 3-2 against the current RPI Top-25. Furthermore, the Irish are 5-2 against the Top-50 and 7-2 against the Top-100.
The Irish boast four ranked wins on the season, including two against the top-three: No. 19 Saint Louis (road game), No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State.
Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 17th in the country.
The Irish have been all over the United Soccer Coaches despite the 12-2-0 record: No. 16 – Unranked – No. 16 – No. 12 – No. 6 – No. 18 – No. 16 – No. 17 – No. 6 – No. 5.
HOLD THE LINE
The Irish backline of Gaetino, Hudson and Klenke have only allowed 37 shots on goal over 15 games – which equates to a stout 2.5 SOG per game. Even shots in general, opponents are averaging just 7.1 against the Irish.
6 games this season the Irish backline has only allowed 1 SOG or fewer: NC State (Oct. 6), Boston College (9/30), Virginia (9/22), Saint Louis (8/25), Western Michigan (8/21) and Marquette (8/18).
Notre Dame’s defensive/goalie crew boasts 10 shutouts on the year.Their shutout percentage of 0.667 ranks 4th in the country.
Notre Dame’s GAA of 0.533 ranks 11th in the country and 1st in the ACC.
Mackenzie Wood in particular has been stellar in net down the stretch, as her 0.300 GAA leads the entire country. Wood has only allowed 3 goals in 10 games. Furthermore, she has collected 8 shutouts, including 6 straight. Her…