Undefeated Irish Survive Late Tar Heels Rally to Maintain Perfect Conference Record Seven-Goal Spectacle Captivates 1,072 at Alumni Stadium in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, IN – Notre Dame held off a spirited North Carolina comeback to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory on Tuesday evening at Alumni Stadium, keeping their unbeaten record intact at 8-0-1 overall and improving to 3-0 in conference play. The Irish built a commanding 4-1 lead before the Tar Heels mounted a furious second-half rally that fell just short in front of 1,072 spectators in a match that featured relentless attacking play from both sides.
Notre Dame seized control early as Ally Pinto broke through in the 76th minute with a high shot that found the back of the net to give the Irish a 1-0 advantage. The hosts doubled their lead just five minutes later when they converted again at the 81st minute to establish a 2-0 cushion. The Irish continued to press forward with Izzy Engle and Charlie Codd both testing the North Carolina goalkeeper with dangerous efforts in the 89th and 93rd minutes, keeping the Tar Heels pinned deep in their own half.
North Carolina refused to surrender and pulled one back through Paige Buchner, who fired home from the low left area in the 71st minute to cut the deficit to 2-1 and give the visitors renewed hope heading into the final period. The goal energized the Tar Heels, who began to find more space in the attacking third and created several promising opportunities through Kate Faasse and Linda Ullmark.
The Irish restored their two-goal cushion when Annabelle Chukwu struck in the 68th minute with a high shot to make it 3-1, easing any nerves that had crept into the home side's play. Notre Dame extended their advantage even further when they found the net for a fourth time in the 85th minute, seemingly putting the match beyond doubt at 4-2 and allowing the hosts to play with greater freedom in possession.
Izzy Engle emerged as Notre Dame's most influential attacking player, registering multiple efforts including shots in the 73rd, 88th, 90th, and 98th minutes that consistently troubled the North Carolina defense. Engle's intelligent movement and ability to find pockets of space caused problems throughout the contest, forcing the Tar Heels to commit extra numbers to defensive duties.
Notre Dame's Abby Mills came closest to extending the lead further when she struck the woodwork with a high shot in the 80th minute that had the goalkeeper beaten, while Ellie Hodsden tested the North Carolina defense with dangerous attempts in the 91st and 87th minutes. The Irish controlled large portions of the match and created the better quality chances across the full 90 minutes.
North Carolina demonstrated remarkable character in mounting a second-half comeback that briefly threatened to snatch an unlikely point. Linda Ullmark led the Tar Heels' attacking efforts with an impressive display that included shots in the 55th, 80th, 83rd, and 73rd minutes, repeatedly testing the Notre Dame goalkeeper. Lauren Malsom also proved dangerous with efforts in the 52nd, 66th, and 86th minutes as North Carolina pushed for an equalizer.
The visitors pulled another goal back in the 79th minute to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finale as they sensed an opportunity to salvage something from the match. North Carolina's late surge continued when Linda Ullmark scored in the 73rd minute to reduce the arrears to 4-3, sparking frantic scenes as the Tar Heels threw everything forward in the closing stages.
Despite North Carolina's valiant efforts in the final 20 minutes, Notre Dame held firm to secure all three points in a crucial conference victory. The Irish demonstrated their quality by weathering the storm and maintaining their composure under sustained pressure from a determined opponent. For North Carolina, now 7-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play, the narrow defeat represents a missed opportunity despite their spirited fightback that showcased their attacking capabilities.
The seven-goal thriller provided exceptional entertainment for the home supporters, with both teams displaying attacking intent and creating numerous chances throughout the contest. Kate Faasse and Bella Devey contributed efforts for North Carolina in the 88th and 89th minutes respectively, while Olivia Thomas registered shots in the 43rd and 90th minutes as the Tar Heels refused to accept defeat until the final whistle.