A Season’s End in Double Overtime
The Notre Dame women's soccer team saw its national championship aspirations extinguished when Ohio State struck a golden goal in double overtime during the Round of 32. The 15‑2‑2 Irish, seeded first in their region, were unable to withstand the late strike, leaving the locker room quiet and the season abruptly concluded.
Coach Nate Norman reflected on the defeat, acknowledging the difficulty of the loss while emphasizing the program’s ‘day‑by‑day’ philosophy. Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, he called for an ‘anti‑entitled’ mindset and a focus on incremental improvement, a strategy he believes will lay the groundwork for a future College Cup run.
Returning Talent and a Unified Squad
The Irish will welcome back a wealth of experience for the 2026 campaign. Senior midfielder Charlie Codd returns to anchor the midfield, while junior forward Izzy Engle, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, looks to build on her 19‑goal sophomore season. Annabelle Chukwu, who contributed 12 goals last year, and fellow junior Ellie Hodsden, a third‑year scorer, give the attack depth and versatility.
Supporting attackers such as Morgan Roy, who led the team with nine assists, and the promising return of Grace Restovich — who is weeks away from recovering from a torn ACL — add further options up front. The coaching staff stresses that the team’s strength lies not in individual stars but in collective play, chemistry and depth.
Injury updates and a clean‑slate mentality dominate the conversation as the squad prepares for the upcoming season. With a core of juniors and seniors poised to lead, the Irish aim to avoid repeating past disappointments and to translate their regular‑season resilience into postseason success.