Notre Dame Edges Virginia, 2-1 in Double Overtime

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (3-2-0, 2-1-0) was the beneficiary of an own goal in the 103^rd minute, defeating Virginia (1-2-1, 1-2-1) 2-1 in double overtime at Alumni Stadium. It marked the fourth-straight overtime match for the Cavaliers.

For the first time this season, Virginia held a lead going into the halftime break thanks to the first goal of the season by Axel Gunnarsson (Gothenburg, Sweden) in the 22^nd minute. On a service from freshman Rafael Caipo (Lima, Peru), Gunnarsson was able to chip a ball over the head of a charging Keagan McLaughlin for the go-ahead score. The assist from Caipo was his first collegiate point.

The Cavalier defense did not allow a single shot attempt in the first 45 minutes of action and it marked the third time in four games Virginia held an opponent scoreless in the first half.

Notre Dame leading scorer Jack Lynn got the Irish on the board in the 54^th minute with his third goal in three games. The junior took a crossing pass from Patrick Coleman and headed the ball into the left side of the net.

Making his collegiate debut in goal, redshirt-freshman Alex Rando (New York, N.Y.) made four saves, playing the entire match. He kept the Cavaliers in the match on numerous occasions including a brilliant one-on-one save 27 seconds prior to the game-winning goal in the second extra session.

The own goal went off the foot of a Virginia defender as Notre Dame served in a corner kick.

Each team attempted 11 shots and the final corner kick of the match gave Notre Dame a 4-3 edge in corners. The Cavaliers held 56 percent of the game’s possession, the fourth-straight match in which they have won the possession battle.

Virginia will play its final two games of the regular season at Klöckner Stadium beginning on Friday (Oct. 30) against Syracuse. The Virginia soccer program will honor four seniors – Beau Bradley, Nathaniel Crofts, Irakoze Donasiyano and Spencer Patton prior to the match. Game time is set for 8 p.m. and the contest will air on Regional Sports Networks.

Additional Notes

• Notre Dame is Virginia’s most played opponent since 2013, squaring off 14 times including every year in South Bend.
• Since 2013, Virginia is 5-5-4 against Notre Dame with six matches going to overtime and all but two decided by one goal or played to a draw.
• Redshirt freshman Nick Berghold (Wingdale, N.Y.) made his first collegiate start after scoring a game-tying goal on Sunday against Pitt. He logged 89 minutes against the Irish.
• Virginia has played four-straight overtime games for only the second time in program history. The 2012 team played five-straight (Oct. 19 – Nov. 9).
• Rando is the 10^th player to appear in their first game as a Cavalier in 2020.