Chukwu Hat Trick Powers No. 5 Notre Dame Past Michigan State Fighting Irish forward Annabelle Chukwu finds the net three times in commanding 3-0 victory
EAST LANSING, MI – Fifth-ranked Notre Dame delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing, with Annabelle Chukwu netting a hat trick to propel the Fighting Irish to a commanding 3-0 victory over Michigan State at DeMartin Soccer Stadium on Thursday evening.
The match remained scoreless through the opening 25 minutes despite Notre Dame's territorial advantage. The Fighting Irish peppered the Spartans' defense with early attempts, including efforts from Charlie Codd and Izzy Engle that tested goalkeeper Noelle Henning's reflexes. Michigan State showed resilience in the opening quarter-hour, with Kayla Briggs forcing a pair of blocked shots during a promising spell around the 15th minute.
Notre Dame broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Chukwu rose majestically to convert a perfectly weighted cross from defender Leah Klenke. The header, directed into the lower right corner, rewarded the Fighting Irish's patient buildup play and gave them the crucial advantage heading into the interval.
The second half belonged entirely to Chukwu and Notre Dame. Just two minutes after the restart, the dynamic forward doubled her tally with a sublime left-footed strike into the top right corner following a blocked shot from Engle. The goal showcased Chukwu's predatory instincts in the box and her ability to capitalize on second chances.
Michigan State's hopes of mounting a comeback were extinguished four minutes later when Chukwu completed her hat trick with another towering header from a corner kick. Once again finding the lower right corner, the forward demonstrated her aerial prowess and timing to put the match beyond doubt.
The Spartans showed glimpses of attacking intent throughout the encounter, with Emerson Sargeant firing narrowly over the crossbar in the 51st minute and Renee Watson testing Notre Dame goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica late in the contest. However, the Fighting Irish's defensive structure, anchored by the composed Kasica, never truly wavered under pressure.
Notre Dame's midfield trio of Morgan Roy, Grace Restovich, and Ally Pinto controlled the tempo effectively, with Roy and Restovich each contributing assists to complement their defensive work. The Fighting Irish's tactical discipline was evident in their patient possession play and clinical conversion of scoring opportunities.
Michigan State's frustration became apparent as the match wore on, with Laney Matriano and Abby Mills both cautioned for unsporting behavior. The Spartans struggled to create clear-cut chances against Notre Dame's organized defensive shape, managing just three shots on target compared to the visitors' six.
The victory showcased Notre Dame's quality in the final third, with Chukwu's movement and finishing proving the difference between two well-organized sides. Her three goals came from varied situations – a cross, a rebound, and a set piece – demonstrating her versatility as a goal threat.
For Michigan State, the defeat highlighted areas for improvement in defensive set-piece situations and final-third creativity. Despite battling gamely throughout, the Spartans were unable to match Notre Dame's clinical edge when opportunities arose.
The comprehensive victory serves as an early statement of intent from the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish, who controlled proceedings from start to finish while showcasing the attacking depth that could prove crucial as the season progresses.
Key Players
- Annabelle Chukwu (Notre Dame) - Hat trick hero with three clinical finishes, including two headers and a left-footed strike
- Leah Klenke (Notre Dame) - Solid defensive display capped by crucial assist for opening goal
- Sonoma Kasica (Notre Dame) - Composed goalkeeping performance with key saves to preserve clean sheet