Without further ado, we bring you the results of the last week's Irish match-ups.
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The no. 1 men's soccer team (9-1-5, 6-1-3 ACC) claimed a 3-1 road victory this weekend over no. 12 Wake Forest. Late in the first half, the Irish and the Demon Deacons traded goals (Evan Panken scored for Notre Dame). Then Vince Cicciarelli put one in before the half ended, and the Irish opened their lead to 2 goals half way through the 2nd off the foot of Connor Klekota. The impressive win ended a 5-game losing streak to Wake Forest for the Irish.
This Tuesday, Notre Dame takes on no. 17 Michigan State in East Lansing (3:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network). Conference play ends on Friday when they face Pittsburgh at home (7:00 p.m. ET, WatchND).
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The no. 19/10 women's team (11-7-1, 7-6-1 ACC) fell in double overtime to no. 3 FSU, 2-1, last Thursday. The ACC regular season finale ended in heart-breaking fashion for the Irish, who scored fairly early in the game, only to have their goal matched with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation. The teams were nearly even in shots and shots on goal, but FSU led in corners (9-5) and fouls (11-3). Half of Notre Dame's losses in the regular season came in double overtime and 3 of them were to top-5 foes.
Sunday, the Irish dropped out of the ACC Championship in the quarterfinal round to no. 5 Virginia Tech, 2-1. IN DOUBLE OVERTIME. After the Hokies had rallied to tie the game in the 2nd half, the winning goal dropped into the Irish net with just 1:13 to go in 2OT. The Irish played the final third of the game down 1 player (defender Elizabeth Tucker was shown 2 yellow cards, 1 clearly by mistake). The Hokies led in shots (31-14), shots on goal (10-7), and corner kicks (12-0), while the Irish took all 5 yellow cards. With everything against them, the Irish fought hard and played well, but now they wait for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships.
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No. 4 Irish hockey (5-2-0, 1-1-0) split their Hockey East-opening series with Vermont over the weekend, dropping their first match to the Catamounts on the road Friday, 2-1. A short-handed Irish goal from Bryan Rust in the 2nd period matched Vermont's 1st-period score, but the home team netted a game-winner on a power play with under 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd. Summerhays stopped 17 of 19 shots and the Irish took 21 of their own.
Sunday, the Irish earned a 3-2 win over Vermont behind a late, one-man rally. Once again, the Irish were down 2-1 late in the 3rd period (not as late, but still late), when left wing Sam Herr netted 2 goals in a 1-minute-and-2-second span. Vermont barely led with 28 shots to Notre Dame's 27 and the Irish mounted their impressive 3-goal comeback after going down 2 in the opening period.
The Irish take on Minnesota at home this Friday at 8:05 p.m. ET (WatchND), then again on Saturday evening (7:05 p.m. ET, NBCSports.com).
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Notre Dame cross country competed in the ACC Championships in North Carolina this past weekend. The men's team finished 3rd in a field of 14 and the women's team, 4th overall in a field of 15, with 4 runners claiming all-ACC honors. Martin Grady came in 5th and Jeremy Rae came in 11th place in a field of 129 in their 8k race, with 2 others finishing in the top 30. The women's team had 4 top-30 finishes in the 6k race among 140 runners.
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Irish Volleyball (10-13, 4-7) earned wins in both their weekend matches. First, they beat Maryland at home, 3-1, behind great hitting. Then on Sunday, the Irish rallied to beat Pittsburgh in 5 sets after going down 2-1.
Wednesday evening, the Irish face Syracuse on the road. They then face Boston College Saturday evening in Chestnut Hill.
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The men's golf team finished their fall season at the Invitational at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, SC this past Tuesday. They tied for 11th overall and Tyler Wingo tied at 22nd with a 3-round score of 224 (+8). The Irish next hit the links in mid-March at the San Diego Intercollegiate.
The women's golf team finished up the season the week before last with an 11th place finish at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, NC. They next compete in mid-February at the Florida State Match-Up.
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No. 22 men's swimming fell hard to Purdue, 208-92, in West Lafayette over the weekend. The Irish won the 200 free and the 1650 free and earned top-2 finishes in 8 events.
The women's team also lost to the Boilermakers, but in a neck-and-neck 155.5-144.5 finish. The Irish were victorious in the 200 free, 100 breast, and 200 breast (all Emma Reaney), as well as the 100 back, 200 back, 200IM, 1-M dive, and 200 medley relay. They claimed another 7 runner-up finishes on top of those wins. Still, it wasn't quite enough to best Purdue.
The Irish (both teams) next travel to Pittsburgh for a meet with the Panthers and with Virginia Tech on Saturday.
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The men's tennis team was idle this past week and will finish the fall season at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships beginning this Thursday.
The women's team was also idle this past week, but returns to competition beginning this Thursday and all through the weekend at the ITA National Individual Indoor Championships in New York, at the Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic in Florida, and at the Western Michigan Super Challenge in Kalamazoo.
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No. 21/22 men's basketball commenced last Monday night with an exhibition match against Indianapolis at the Purcell Pavilion, in which the Irish outscored their opponent, 95-69. Against Tusculum College last Friday, the Irish won, 93-44.
Friday night, the Irish open the regular season against Miami (Ohio) at home (7:00 p.m. ET, WatchND and ESPN3). They then challenge Stetson on Sunday afternoon, also at home (1:00 p.m. ET, WatchND and ESPN3).
No. 7 women's basketball began play with a 118-49 home exhibition victory over California University of Pennsylvania last Wednesday night.
The Irish begin regular season play vs. UNC Wilmington at home on Saturday (1:00 p.m. ET, WatchND) and Michigan State at home on Monday evening (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3).
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We'll bring you updates again next week on the Notre Dame Olympic sports and help you to root for the Irish beyond those long-awaited and well-loved fall Saturdays. For now, go Irish. Beat Pittsburgh and everybody else.