While Marcus Freeman and Co. wait another couple of weeks to start their season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's soccer team did kick off its campaign. The No. 2-ranked team managed to start things off with a successful opening night, taking down defending MAC Champions Western Michigan at Alumni Stadium on Thursday evening.
The Irish scored a 2-1 win, meaning that Notre Dame has now improved to a 29-5-3 record in season openers in the program's history. In the process, the Blue and Gold showed off its burgeoning star power as reigning ACC Freshman of the Year and All-American Izzy Engle picked up right where she left off, recording her seventh career multi-goal game as she opened the season with a brace to deliver the Irish the victory.
While Engle was the only Notre Dame Fighting Irish player to score any goals, Junior Chase Ying recorded her first career point off an assist on the opening goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica recorded four saves to pick up the win and kept one of the best teams ND will face all season out of the net beyond a single goal. The Irish next take on Arkansas on Saturday, August 17.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vet Kevin Bauman delivers a stirring speech
While Notre Dame football veteran Kevin Bauman won't be able to play this season after suffering another season-ending and career-ending torn ACL, he was still featured as a leader of the Irish in a recent sneak peek of Season 2 of the Peacock series, Here Comes The Irish.
Kenny Minchey reportedly takes the lead in Notre Dame QB race
The biggest question of the Irish fall camp has been "who will start against Miami" on August 31. While many, many people thought that CJ Carr was the shoo-in to get the job, new reports indicate that Kenny Minchey is the slight frontrunner.
While the fight is not over yet, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team might have a different quarterback under center for the season opener. Two more scrimmages will help determine it one way or the other.