SOUTH BEND, Ind. – In the first matchup with a ranked team this year, Santa Clara women's soccer fell at No. 7 Notre Dame by a final of 2-1. The loss puts the Broncos at 1-2-0 on the season while the Irish are 3-0-0.
Santa Clara returns to the field Sun., Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. vs. Northwestern.
"Congratulations to Notre Dame. They were the better team today and deserved to win," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "I'm very proud of how we battled, especially in the second half. I'm happy that we made the No. 7 team in the country push to the end and work so hard for a victory. It was also nice to get Jordan Jesolva back on the field after missing a year with injury. This is the type of game that will prepare us for the toughest games we have this season and was a great growing opportunity. We're a better team for having battled Notre Dame."
Santa Clara was outshot by Notre Dame 29-2 and shots on goal were 14-1 in favor of the Irish. Jenna Roering led the Bronco offense with their goal. Andi Tostanoski picked up a career-high 12 saves in net.
Tostanoski made two beautiful saves in the first 20 minutes of the game to keep it scoreless. A ball sent into the box was headed twice before Tostanoski snagged it out of the air just at the goal line. The second save was off a cross in the air that was one-timed. She blocked the ball and the Santa Clara defense was able to clear.
Despite being on the defensive for most of the first half, Santa Clara broke through with the first goal of the night in the 24th minute. Roering ran down a ball over the defense before gathering it at her feet. She put the ball over the goalkeeper's left shoulder and into the back of the net to give the Broncos the 1-0 lead. It was the first career goal for the junior from Minnesota and the first shot on goal Notre Dame had allowed all season.
In the 36th minute Notre Dame tied the score at one all. Natalie Jacobs used the outside of her foot to slip a pass to Kaileigh Olmsted in the box. Olmsted then put her shot past Tostanoski and into the goal.
Santa Clara was outshot by Notre Dame 15-1 in the first half and shots on goal were 7-1 in favor or Notre Dame. Tostanoski had a big half with six saves and Roering scored the lone Bronco goal.
With Notre Dame continuing its relentless offensive pressure, the Broncos were able to keep the game tied until the 81st minute. After a shot was blocked but wasn't cleared, Glory Williams shot through a crowd that shielded Tostanoski's view and the ball rolled into the net to make it 2-1 Irish.
