SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame (11-0-1) maintained their perfect home record with a 4-2 victory over Florida State (8-1-2) in a thrilling Atlantic Coast Conference match on Thursday evening at Alumni Stadium. The Fighting Irish extended their winning streak to 10 games in front of a capacity crowd.
Taylor Suarez opened the scoring for Florida State in the 6th minute, firing a shot into the top left corner. The Seminoles doubled their advantage through Suarez again in the 23rd minute after excellent build-up play from Mimi Van Zanten and Jordynn Dudley. Notre Dame responded before halftime when Paige Buchner found the net in the 44th minute off an assist from Ellie Hodsden.
The first half was marked by Florida State's efficient attack, with the Seminoles recording 8 shots to Notre Dame's 6. Jordynn Dudley was particularly active, registering a blocked shot in the 2nd minute and creating several dangerous chances. The visitors also earned 6 corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, demonstrating their set-piece threat.
Notre Dame seized control after the break, with Izzy Engle equalizing in the 63rd minute from a well-worked combination with Laney Matriano and Ally Pinto. The Irish continued their momentum as Ellie Hodsden put them ahead in the 65th minute, converting an Izzy Engle assist. Annabelle Chukwu sealed the victory with Notre Dame's fourth goal in the 80th minute.
The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of the contest, with Florida State recording 18 total shots to Notre Dame's 15. The Seminoles held a significant 10-0 advantage in corner kicks, but the Irish were more clinical in front of goal, converting 4 of their 6 shots on target. Both teams received one yellow card - Janet Okeke for Florida State in the 64th minute and Annabelle Chukwu for Notre Dame in the 84th minute.
Several players delivered standout performances, with Notre Dame's Ellie Hodsden contributing a goal and an assist. Florida State's Taylor Suarez was dangerous throughout, recording three shots on goal in addition to her two first-half strikes. Morgan Roy created multiple chances for the Irish, including two dangerous attempts in the 38th minute.
The tactical battle shifted dramatically after halftime, as Notre Dame adjusted their pressing approach to neutralize Florida State's build-up play. The Irish found success attacking down the flanks, with Izzy Engle and Laney Matriano combining effectively to create overlapping runs. Florida State's early success came through direct play, particularly utilizing Jordynn Dudley's pace on the counter-attack.
This victory maintains Notre Dame's impressive unbeaten start to the season, while dealing Florida State their first loss in ACC play. The Irish demonstrated their resilience by overcoming a two-goal deficit, showcasing the depth and quality that has made them one of the nation's top teams. For Florida State, despite the loss, their first-half performance highlighted their attacking potency.
Notre Dame will look to extend their winning streak when they host SMU on October 12, while Florida State will aim to bounce back in a high-profile matchup against Stanford on October 16. The Seminoles' defensive organization will be crucial as they prepare to face another top-ranked opponent.