[VIRGINIA-NOTRE DAME: Women] U.S. international Morgan Brian scored on a header in the 101st minute to give No. 1 Virginiaa 3-2 overtime victory over No. 5 Notre Dame in front of a school-record 2,838 fans who braved the rain at Kloeckner Stadium Thursday night.
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Danielle Colaprico‘s corner kick wasserved toward the top of the six-yard box, where Brian headed the ball through the Irish and over the line before Notre Dame’s Kaleigh Olmsted was able to saveit.
“It was a great college soccer game tonight,” said Cavs coach Steve Swanson. “When you have two great teams, there are goingto be ebbs and flows. That was the case tonight. I thought this was our most consistent effort of the season. We did a lot of good things against a really talented opponent. Give Notre Dame a lot ofcredit. To come back twice from down a goal in this environment shows the type of team they have.”
The Cavaliers took the early lead in the fourth minute of play when
Virginia retook the lead in the 50th minute when Molly Menchel sent a cross into the boxthat Brian went for, but it deflected off Irish defender Rebecca Twining and into the Irish goal.
But Notre Dame rallied to tie the game again inthe 73rd minute on Tucker’s second goal of the night.
“I’m incredibly proud of the heart and effort our team showed tonight, especially in some really adverse weatherconditions,” Notre Dame coach Randy Waldrum said. “Our work rate was terrific, we competed from start to finish against the No. 1 team in thecountry on their home field and didn’t blink, even when we fell behind. Soccer can be a cruel sport sometimes, and we’ve been on both sides of the fence on finishes like this. That beingsaid, you can’t take a thing away from Virginia — they were outstanding and certainly showed why they’ve had the success they’ve had this season.”