Tag: Radford

Kameron Simmonds scores sixth goal in win versus Radford

Tennessee’s Kameron Simmonds scores sixth goal in win versus Radford.

Tennessee (4-1-1, 0-0-0 SEC) defeated Radford (3-3-1, 0-0-0 Big South), 3-1, Thursday at Regal Soccer Stadium.

Redford led, 1-0, after Alexeis Kirnos scored during the first minute of the match.

Kirnos’ goal took place within 35 seconds of the match, representing Radford’s lone shot on goal. The Lady Vols outshot Radford, 25-2, in the game.

Tennessee had eight of its scoring chances land on goal.

Tennessee’s Maria Nelson tied the game, 1-1, in the 17th minute. Kameron Simmonds and Jordan Fusco were each credited with an assist on the game-tying goal.

Simmonds later gave the Lady Vols a lead with an unassisted goal during the 29th minute.

Tennessee extended its advantage to, 3-1, on an unassisted goal by Sizzy Lawton.

Simmonds is currently tied for first in the SEC with Jordyn Rhodes of Kentucky in goals (six), goals per game (1.00) and points (12).

Notre Dame on pace for worst conference season in program history

This is a conference season to remember for all the wrong reasons, and it could sink lower.

After decades of independence, Notre Dame joined the Big East for the 1995-96 season. It proved to be an adjustment as the Irish went 4-14 during their first conference schedule. That was as bad as it got in conference play until the 2018-19 Irish stumbled to a 3-15 ACC record. Now, only four years later, the Irish are on pace for something even more putrid.

Through eight ACC games, or 40% of the conference schedule, the Irish are 1-7, and they earned that lone win by the skin of their teeth. If this pace keeps up, they’ll finish 3-17, which would give the program its worst conference winning percentage ever at .150. Given that a second game with Georgia Tech and one with Louisville, the only teams you objectively can say are as bad, if not worse than the Irish, remain on the schedule, that’s not out of the question.

The eye test should have seen this coming. Except for the win over Michigan State, no nonconference win looked particularly impressive. Sure, the Irish had a few double-digit wins sprinkled in there, but the season began with single-digit victories at home against blue-blood opponents Radford and Youngstown State, followed soon after by a one-point home win against the almighty Lipscomb. Perhaps those raised flags, but how many actually believed it?

As the losses pile up, so do the calls for [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] to retire or be fired. Frankly, you can’t blame Irish fans for wanting either one. His “get old, stay old” philosophy for this season has backfired. Having a bunch of veteran players fresh off two NCAA Tournament wins and a highly-touted recruit in [autotag]JJ Starling[/autotag] should have worked, but everything that could go wrong has.

The worst part is this is happening with the knowledge that the Irish are going to have a lot of unproven talent in next year’s rotation. Except for Starling and [autotag]Ven-Allen Lubin[/autotag], no underclassman has played nearly enough for fans to say they’re excited for the 2023-24 season. With the window of opportunity not stretching beyond this season, this was the last chance for success for this group. Instead, it’s going out with a whimper.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what needs to happen to label the rest of the season a success. Right now, just avoiding the standing for program conference futility is the most reasonable. That speaks volumes and specifically means a disappointing tempering of expectations. However, there’s not much else you can do when it’s become almost certain that this year’s Irish will not play beyond the ACC Tournament.

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Notre Dame survives opening-night scare from Radford

That was too close.

Notre Dame didn’t play its season opener like a team worthy of a vote in the national preseason poll. For much of it, Radford was poised to repeat the feeling it had when it won at the Purcell Pavilion in 2018. In the end, the Irish squeaked out a 79-76 victory. Still, they might have a lot to fix between now and when ACC play begins.

Although the Irish (1-0) held a one-point halftime lead, it was the Highlanders (0-2) dictating much of the first-half pace. They doubled down on that in the second half, taking advantage of Irish misses and mistakes to go up by nine midway through the frame. Fortunately, they couldn’t quite do it enough to prevent the Irish from chipping into the lead and then taking it for themselves.

The Highlanders quickly retook the lead, and both teams began making both field goals and free throws to keep the game close. Finally, a [autotag]Cormac Ryan[/autotag] layup off a [autotag]Nate Laszewski[/autotag] rebound gave the Irish a one-point lead with nine seconds left. Josiah Jeffers missed a go-ahead layup on the other end, and Laszewski was fouled on a loose ball with 0.4 seconds on the clock. Laszewski sank two free throws, and that was it.

Laszewski was the game’s leading scorer with 28 points, scoring 14 apiece in both halves, and its leading rebounder with 12 (six in each half). [autotag]Trey Wertz[/autotag] scored 12 of his 18 points on four 3-pointers, dished out four assists and had two steals. Ryan scored 10, and [autotag]JJ Starling[/autotag] had nine in his collegiate debut.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame announces nonconference schedule for 2022-23 season

Notre Dame is eager to build on the success it had during the 2021-22 season.

Notre Dame is eager to build on the success it had during the 2021-22 season. It won two NCAA Tournament games, and [autotag]Blake Wesley[/autotag] became the program’s first one-and-done player after being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. For the 2022-23 season, the Irish are returning most of their players and have another freshman with high expectations in [autotag]JJ Starling[/autotag]. We now know how their season will start in that they have released their nonconference schedule.

After everything the Irish accomplished last year, opponents will know not to take them lightly. [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] has recaptured his old magic, and that means a team that should continue to get better. All of this means some quality basketball will be played, and that means a product worth the money paid by the fans who come out to see them. After a Nov. 2 exhibition against New Orleans-based NAIA opponent Xavier, here’s who the Irish will face before playing an ACC schedule that promises even more excitement: