NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame women’s soccer team is back on campus to kick off its home slate of games this fall on Thursday night against the Boston College Eagles. After going 1-1 in the opening weekend of the season on the road, the Irish begin a four-game homestand that will occur over the next few weeks. Thursday’s match will be the second nationally televised game for the Irish, as the game will air on the ACC Network.
KNOW THE OPPONENT: BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
- The Irish will renew acquaintances with a conference foe that they have not faced since 2015 in Boston College.
- The Irish own a 12-1-1 record all time against the Eagles and in their most recent game against Boston College, Notre Dame came away with a 2-0 win at Alumni Stadium on Oct. 11, 2015.
- The two goals from the Irish came from twin sisters Taylor and Kaitlin Klawunder for Notre Dame’s 10th win of the season.
- Notre Dame holds a 7-0 record at home against Boston College and four of those games ended in a shutout for the Irish.
- Boston College opens the 2020 season Thursday night against the Irish and are coming off an 8-8-2 campaign in 2019.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS IN THE WIN OVER MIAMI
- The Notre Dame offense came out in full force in its 6-0 win over the Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 20.
- The Irish scored six goals, the most they have had in a game since 2015 when they defeated Valparaiso by the same scoreline (6-0).
- It was also the biggest conference win since the Irish have joined the ACC in 2013.
- It is the largest margin of victory in a conference game since 2012 when they were in the BIG EAST and defeated Cincinnati 7-0 on Sept. 16.
- The six goals marked the most scored in a road game since 2008 when the Irish defeated Cincinnati 6-0 on Sept. 28.
HATS ALL AROUND FOR VAN ZANTEN
- Sophomore Kiki Van Zanten made a name for herself last season with four goals and she picked up where she left off against Miami.
- The Buffalo Grove, Ill. native came off the bench and scored three goals for her first career hat trick in the 6-0 win.
- Van Zanten scored all three goals in just 34 minutes of game action for the second straight hat trick for the Irish against Miami after Sammi Fisher tallied one last season against the Hurricanes.
- It is the 70th hat trick of all-time for the Irish and she is the youngest player to record a hat trick since Cari Roccaro in her sophomore year in 2013 against No. 21 Maryland.
IRISH RETURN TO FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ALUMNI STADIUM
- The Irish return home to Alumni Stadium for the next four games of the 2020 season where they had a lot of success in 2019.
- The Irish finished last season with an 8-1-1 record at home, including a first round win in the NCAA Tournament over Saint Louis.
- Eight of the 10 shutouts for the Irish came at home last season, including the first three home games of the season.
- The Irish clinched a berth in the ACC Championship with a 3-2 2OT win at home in the regular season finale against Wake Forest.
- In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Kiki Van Zanten’s goal in the first half secured the 1-0 win to advance in the tournament for the 23rd time in program history.
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