No. 23 Virginia Travels to No. 2 Notre Dame for Saturday ACC Clash

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Oct. 25, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 23 Virginia men’s soccer team visits No. 2 Notre Dame Saturday afternoon in the programs’ first matchup as ACC foes. The Cavaliers’ first-ever trip to South Bend comes with a 2 p.m. contest at Alumni Stadium.

Records
Virginia: 6-3-4 (ACC: 2-2-4/10 points)
Notre Dame: 8-0-5 (ACC: 5-0-3/18 points)

Broadcast Information
Notre Dame will have a free video broadcast of the match. A link can be found on VirginiaSports.com. Live statistics (GameTracker) also will be located on VirginiaSports.com, as well as the new Virginia Sports app, which is available free of charge through iTunes.

Virginia-Notre Dame Series
Virginia holds a 3-0 all-time record against Notre Dame heading into to the teams’ first matchup as ACC rivals. The programs last met in the 2006 NCAA Quarterfinals in Charlottesville, with UVa scoring a 3-2 victory to advance to the NCAA College Cup.

This marks Virginia’s first-ever trip to South Bend. The teams also played in the 1985 season opener in Charlottesville and faced off in the adidas/Met Life Classic in Bloomington, Ind., in 1989.

Virginia-Notre Dame Meetings
Nov. 24, 2006 – @ No. 3 Virginia 3, No. 12 Notre Dame 2 (NCAA Quarterfinals)
Sept. 3, 1989 – No. 1 Virginia 3, Notre Dame 0 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Sept. 1, 1985 – @ No. 2 Virginia 3, Notre Dame 0

Last Time Out: Virginia 1, Virginia Tech 1 (2OT)
Virginia thoroughly dominated Virginia Tech before settling for a 1-1 draw last Friday in Blacksburg. After surrendering a fourth-minute own goal, Virginia picked up the equalizer with 34 seconds remaining in the second half on an Eric Bird (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.) goal.

The Cavaliers had multiple chances in the overtime periods, including a penalty kick, but could not net the golden goal. Virginia Tech played a man down for the final 90 minutes after earning a red card in the 20th minute but was able to withstand the Cavaliers’ relentless pressure while only giving up one goal.

UVa out-shot the Hokies, 37-2, including 11-0 in the overtime sessions. The Cavaliers’ shot total is the most in a game by an ACC team this season. UVa also took 13 corner kicks to none for the Hokies.

UVa Riding Longest Unbeaten Streak Since 2009
Virginia brings a nine-match unbeaten streak into the Saturday contest at Notre Dame. It marks the longest Cavalier unbeaten streak since 2009 when UVa ended the year on a 16-match unbeaten string in winning the national championship.

Offense Ranks Among Top 10 Nationally
Virginia ranks 11th nationally and second in the ACC in scoring offense with 2.15 goals per game. With 28 goals this year, UVa is tied for 13th nationally. On the flip side, Notre Dame ranks ninth nationally in fewest goals allowed per game.

UVa has scored at least two goals in eight of its last 10 matches, with 25 goals in that span. The Wahoos tallied just three goals in their first three matches combined this year.

Virginia Stands 27th in NCAA RPI
Virginia is ranked No. 27 in the latest NCAA RPI report for the 2013 season. Thirteen of UVa’s 17 regular-season foes are amongst the top 65, including eight in the top 40. UVa’s remaining opponents’ RPI: Notre Dame (7), UNC Greensboro (63), North Carolina (22) and Boston College (76).

Scouting Notre Dame
Notre Dame is one of three unbeaten teams remaining in Division I men’s soccer, joining Cal and Washington. The Irish are coming off a 2-1 win at NC State last Saturday in Raleigh and own a 5-0-3 mark on their home pitch this season. Harrison Shipp leads the team with six goals and six assists, while Patrick Hodan and Leon Brown both have scored four goals. Notre Dame’s defense has been stout, allowing just eight goals; ND has not conceded more than one goal in any match this season.

Up Next
Virginia will play its final three regular-season matches at home at Klöckner Stadium, beginning Oct. 29 against UNC Greensboro. UVa then takes on No. 20 North Carolina next Friday (Nov. 1) and Boston College the following Friday (Nov. 8).