Notre Dame vs. North Carolina – Match Preview
Date and Time: Saturday, October 10 at 7:00 PM
Location: Chapel Hill, NC | Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium
Where to Watch: ACCNX
Live Stats: LINK
Match Notes: LINK
Team Overview
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 5-3-3 (2-2-0 in ACC)
- North Carolina Tar Heels: 5-2-3 (1-1-2 in ACC)
Series History: Notre Dame trails North Carolina 3-8-4, with a 2-4-1 record at UNC.
Key Players
- Tristan Tropeano: Leads the Irish with 4 goals, combining with Michael Capretto for 7 of Notre Dame’s 17 goals this season.
- Michael Capretto: Has 3 goals this season, contributing significantly to the team’s attack.
Notable Stats
- Blake Kelly: Leads the ACC with 4.64 saves per game (51 total saves this season).
- Senior Class Wins: This group has contributed to a total of 34 wins during their time at Notre Dame.
- NCAA Tournament History: Notre Dame has made 25 NCAA Championship appearances since 1988.
Recent Highlights
- Victory Against Stanford: Recently defeated #1 Stanford 3-1, marking only the third win against a top-ranked team in program history.
- Chad Riley Era: Head Coach Chad Riley is in his ninth season and first to lead the Irish to multiple College Cup appearances.
2026 Leadership
Captains for the 2026 season include:
- Nolan Spicer: Senior midfielder and a key playmaker.
- Blake Kelly: Junior goalkeeper, has been a reliable presence.
- Leo Brummell: Senior midfielder, joined the team in spring 2025.
Conclusion
The Fighting Irish are looking to maintain their momentum against the Tar Heels in what promises to be an exciting matchup in Chapel Hill!
