ND SPORTS
BY JORDAN WELLS
A
fter vaulting as high as No. 2 in
the national polls with its 3‑0‑1
start, the Notre Dame men's soccer
team was brimming with confidence.
However, following a 1‑0 win over
then‑No. 9 Clemson Sept. 12, the Irish
dropped a 1‑0 match to unranked
Xavier Sept. 15 and then fell 4‑2 at
then‑No. 3 North Carolina Sept. 18.
The Irish ended their losing streak
with a 4‑0 victory at Michigan State
Sept. 22, and then rallied for a 3‑1
triumph over then‑No. 4 Virginia
Sept. 25. It was the first loss off the
year for the Cavaliers (5‑1‑2 overall),
who won the national championship
in 2014.
Junior forward Mark Gormley gave
the Irish their initial lead, nailing his
second goal of the year into the left
side of the net in the 35th minute on
an assist from senior forward Patrick
Hodan. Senior midfielder Evan Pan‑
ken gave the Irish breathing room at
2‑0 with a shot into the right corner in
the 78th minute.
Virginia quickly answered with a
goal via a penalty kick in the 79th min‑
ute, but the Irish put the game away
with a quick counter goal from senior
midfielder Connor Klekota in the 80th
minute.
"I was pleased with the way we
played," Notre Dame head coach
Bobby Clark told UND.com. "The
first half was tight, and the first goal
was a terrific goal. I thought when we
got the second goal the game was put
to bed, it was a lovely goal by Evan,
but we just opened the door again for
them. I was disappointed losing that
goal at that time.
"Fortunately we came up and got
the third goal, and that pretty much
iced the game for us. We were lucky
in some ways, with them down to 10
men, but full marks to Virginia. They
kept fighting away."
Graduate student defender Max La‑
Men's Soccer Knocks Off
Defending National Champs
Senior midfielder Connor Klekota's goal in the
80th minute helped the Irish defeat Virginia 3‑1
Sept. 25.
PHOTO COURTESY NOTR DAME MEDIA RELATIONS
