Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM DECEMBER 2024 41 BY TODD D. BURLAGE T alk about a heartbreaking end to a heart-racing career, Irish senior soc- cer star Matthew Roou just lived it. Already on the NCAA Tournament bubble, Notre Dame was in desperate need of a win over Stanford Nov. 6 in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Con- ference Tournament to bolster its NCAA chances. Instead, The Cardinal tallied the game-winning goal with two sec- onds remaining in the match to win 3-2, squashing any Irish NCAA Tournament hopes and ending the fine career of the four-year starting forward. "It was definitely disappointing not to be in the NCAA Tournament and losing our ACC Tournament game like that," said Roou, whose Irish finished the season 7-5-5. "We had some great players, but it wasn't our year. Hope- fully the guys can bounce back and get it done next year." But all is not doom and gloom. Because, while the team fell short of goals and expectations this season — just one year removed from a 2023 national runner-up finish — Roou gar- nered some personal honors he'd been working toward his entire career. After leading the ACC in goals (14), game- winning goals (4) and points (32) this regular season, the Germantown, Wis., native earned coveted ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. "I have to admit, I was very excited to hear the news," said Roou, who scored nearly half of Notre Dame's goals this season (14 of 36) and added a career- high 4 assists. "That was a personal goal of mine for a long time, and something I have been reaching for the last couple of years. Winning it my senior year, my last season, made the honor even more special." Roou became the fourth Irish player to earn the award, joining Jon Gallagher (2016), Patrick Hodan (2014) and Harry Shipp (2013). Along the way, Roou also became the first Irish player since Kevin Lovejoy in 1979 to record multiple hat tricks in a season, scoring three goals in back-to-back early-season wins over Chicago State and Detroit Mercy. Roou's senior season followed a ju- nior year in which he finished tied for the team lead in points with 23 off of 10 goals and 3 assists. So, with his college triumphs and tribulations behind him, Roou is ready for his next chapter. And that begins during a busy December when Roou will finish his finance degree coursework, participate in the MLS College Show- case combine event Dec. 11-14 and then watch the MLS SuperDraft Dec. 20 in anticipation of where life's next chapter will lead him. "It's going to be a busy month," Roou said with a laugh. "It's a very exciting time right now." Before his arrival to Notre Dame, Roou was one of the best youth play- ers in the country. And eventually, as he grew, his family believed it was best for Matthew to relocate in order to find better coaching and competition. They settled on Shattuck-St. Mary's, a pres- tigious boarding school near Minneapo- lis that specializes in the development of soccer and hockey players. The plan paid off. Roou thrived there and helped carry Shattuck-St. Mary's to a No. 1 national ranking following the 2019 soccer season. It was there that schools around the country, including Notre Dame, took notice and began re- cruiting Roou. For obvious reasons, Roou is excited about the month and years to come when a professional soccer career be- gins to unfold. But he remains quick to recognize and celebrate the university that provided him a bright future, in and beyond soccer. "Notre Dame gave me the oppor- tunity to learn and grow, not only as a player but as a person," he said. "I just feel like I am a lot more well-rounded as a person and a soccer player than I was when I came here four years ago. This is my home, and these experiences will always be special to me." ✦ Irish Roundup CROSS COUNTRY The men notched a 10th-place national fin- ish and the women came in 16th at the NCAA Championships Nov. 23 in Madison, Wis. HOCKEY (5-9 OVERALL, 1-7 BIG TEN) Dropped a pair of home games against No. 4 Minnesota Nov. 22-23, falling 6-3 and 5-3 … Beat Harvard 5-2 and lost to Boston U. 4-3 Nov. 29-30 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. WOMEN'S SOCCER (14-4-4 OVERALL, 5-1-4 ACC) No. 4-seeded Notre Dame won two NCAA Championship matches at Starkville, Miss., defeat- ing No. 5 seed Kentucky 3-1 in the second round Nov. 22 and then knocking off No. 1 seed Missis- sippi State 2-0 in the round of 16 Nov. 24 … Lost 2-0 at No. 3 seed Stanford in the Elite Eight Nov. 29. WOMEN'S SWIMMING (1-4 OVERALL, 0-1 ACC) Placed fifth in the Ohio State Fall Invite Nov. 21-23 at Columbus, Ohio. VOLLEYBALL (12-17 OVERALL, 5-15 ACC) Notched a 3-2 victory at Virginia Tech Nov. 22 but fell 3-0 at Virginia Nov. 24 … Topped Virginia Tech 3-1 Nov. 27 in South Bend but lost their season finale 3-1 at Cal Nov. 30. A Bittersweet Ending To A Stellar Soccer Career For Matthew Roou N O T R E D A M E S P O R T S Roou led the ACC in goals (14), game-winning goals (4) and points (32) this regular season, en route to earning ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS