October 5, 2012
TUCKERED OUT
Notre Dame forward scores twice in 5-1 romp over Seton Hall

NOTRE DAME, Ind. —Elizabeth Tucker scored two goals and freshman defender Brittany Von Rueden dished out two assists as No. 24/25 Notre Dame dominated Big East rivals Seton Hall 5-1 Friday night before a crowd of 1,709 fans at rainy Alumni Stadium. It was the seventh straight win for the Fighting Irish (10-3-1, 6-0-0 Big East).

Lauren Bohaboy and Anna Maria Gilbertson both netted their fourth goals of the season, while freshman defender Katie Naughton netted the game-winner midway through the first half.

“This was probably one of our most complete performances of the season,” Notre Dame head coach Randy Waldrum said. “We possessed the ball very well and created numerous strong scoring chances, which were able to put away. Everyone who came in tonight gave us a solid effort.”

Tucker opened the scoring in the 18th minute, off a well-weighted cross from Von Rueden into the heart of the box, where Tucker was unmarked on the doorstep and headed the ball back across the grain and inside the right post.

Less than six minutes later, Notre Dame doubled its lead, and again, Von Rueden stepped to the left corner flag and sent a dangerous service towards the back post, where Naughton crashed hard and was able to muscle the ball over the line from short range for her second goal of the year.

Seton Hall (6-9-0, 1-6-0) came out with renewed energy after halftime, but were unable to hold the momentum. Notre Dame got the all-important third goal in the 54th minute. Mandy Laddish sent a rising cross from the left channel that handcuffed Maiorana in the Pirates’ goal. The SHU netminder went up for the ball but bobbled it and left the ball sitting in the goal mouth, where Tucker alertly charged in to poke home the rebound for her second goal of the night, and fifth of the campaign.

In the 71st minute, Fighting Irish forward Rebecca Twining found Gilbertson loose on a run down the right channel, with the rookie hammering a low shot that skipped on the wet turf and was only partially knocked down by Maiorana. Bohaboy and a SHU defender arrived at the rebound at virtually the same moment and, after briefly getting turned around, Bohaboy backheeled the loose ball over the line from two yards.

Seton Hall spoiled the shutout in the 77th minute, when Brittney Albrecht’s right side corner kick pinged off a teammate and was tipped by Willett off the crossbar. The ball dropped on the right side of the six-yard box, where Ritter beat two Notre Dame defenders to the loose ball to put the visitors on the board.

The Fighting Irish got that goal back in the final three minutes. Mary Schwappach collected the ball at midfield and found Gilbertson with a through ball down the right channel. Gilbertson went shoulder-to-shoulder with her defender and maintained possession all the way to the penalty area before uncorking a low blast that tucked neatly inside the left post in the 88th minute.

Three goalkeepers combined for the Irish victory, with starter Sarah Voigt posting the win and freshman Naomi Willett making the only Irish save. Jennifer Jasper mopped up, not facing a shot in the final 3:32.

Seton Hall goalkeeper Gina Maiorana went the distance in the Pirates’ net and made two saves.

Notre Dame will wrap up its regular-season home slate at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday against Rutgers in the program’s annual Kicks Against Cancer match at Alumni Stadium.