SOUTH BEND, Ind. - In the first of two weekend games in the Notre Dame Adidas Invitational, Santa Clara women's soccer fell to the host Irish 2-1. The loss drops Santa Clara to 2-2-0 and puts Notre Dame at 3-1-0.
The Bronco goal came from Olivia Klei, her second of the season, unassisted. Santa Clara was able to fire off 11 shots, four of which were on goal. The Broncos also tied Notre Dame with four corner kicks and goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski made five saves with four coming in the second half.
Santa Clara will return to the field on Sun., Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. vs. Connecticut to wrap-up its part in the Notre Dame Adidas Invitational.
The game was scoreless for most of the first half until Notre Dame drew a foul in the box in the 38th minute. Crystal Thomas took the shot and put it past Tostanoski to give her team a 1-0 lead that it would carry into half time.
Right out of the gate in the second half the Broncos tied the game. Klei finished a loose ball in the interior box in the 47th minute to even the game up at 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, however, Notre Dame retook the lead for good when Elizabeth Tucker served a ball to Sammy Scofield in the box. Scofield chipped the ball into the back of the net from eight yards out to put the Irish back on top 2-1.
Santa Clara had three shots blocked after Notre Dame went back on top and Cate Parchinski saw a shot sail high over the crossbar. The Broncos best chance to tie the game came in the 79th minute when Meleana Shim put a shot on goal but Elyse Hight made the save to preserve the 2-1 win.