COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Irish snagged their first victory of the season on the road, in the shadow of the ‘Shoe. After Ohio State came storming down the pitch to score on the first drive, the Irish responded with 53 unanswered points. Captain Grace Driewer credits the composure of the team, led by its veteran core, in refocusing and striking back harder.
“After OSU scored the first try it was important to remind the team to take a deep breath and settle in. There are always a lot of jitters at the beginning of a game, so it’s important to recognize that, shake it, and not let it completely rattle your entire game plan,” said Driewer. “The plan after the huddle was to throw a punch right back at OSU and play with confidence; this was just one score and there was plenty of game left to be played.”
And indeed the Irish found themselves right back in it on the following drive. A full team effort by both the forwards and backs contributed to the successes on the field with seven players recording tries. Captain Sophia Frisbie had herself a day going .500 on conversion kicks and even posting a try of her own. Forward Sydney Heim, also saw a successful day securing a hat trick in her return to the pitch after a year studying abroad in Rome, Italy.
While the veteran group certainly showed out, four Irish rookies also contributed to the victory in their Notre Dame debuts. Rookie Emma Doyle attempted a conversion kick late in the match, taking over for Frisbie.
With the win, the Irish head back to South Bend 1-0 ready to build on this solid foundation. Next week, the Irish will face another test at home to a familiar foe: the University of Michigan.
“Michigan has been extremely successful in past seasons. Whenever we go up against them, we know it’s going to be a fight to the end. Moving forward this week, the goal is to bring the intensity at practice and sharpen our skills as much as we can in this week of preparation,” notes Driewer.
The preparation for Michigan will commence as soon as the Irish return home—recovery, reflection, and the practice regiment. With all eyes turned to the next match, this battle-tested Notre Dame team will have to diligently prepare for a relentless opponent in Michigan.
But the Irish are no stranger to what the Wolverines bring to the table.
“This game is going to be a battle, so it’s important that we bring the same intensity and confidence we had against OSU to the pitch this Sunday.”
The Irish continue their Fall 2023 campaign in Notre Dame, Ind. on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 against the University of Michigan.