SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team recorded seven shots on frame and won the possession battle 52-48 as ninth ranked Notre Dame was able to overcome the Huskies 4-0 on Thursday night.
 
"I'm very proud of the team," NIU head coach Michael O'Neill said. "We went toe-to-toe with them and they were able to capitalize on some individual mistakes. We were on the front foot, created a lot of chances. Defensively we were robust and combative and made life difficult for them."
 
The Huskies had 14 shots and seven on frame while the Fighting Irish had 15 with eight on frame.
 
"We won't face any tougher opponents than Notre Dame, so if we can learn from these moments and grow it will prepare us well for conference play," O'Neill said.
 
NIU (3-1-1) had the first two looks on net in the match as Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Metea Valley) and Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Illinois State) tested Notre Dame goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica.
 
On a counterattack the Fighting Irish forced a penalty and Grace Restovich was able to tuck it home in the 10th minute. Notre Dame (5-1) quickly extended the lead after a turnover from the NIU defense set up a good look in the box for Izzy Engle.
 
Throughout the final 32 minutes of the first half the Huskies fought evenly with the Irish and neither team was able to add a goal.
 
In the second half, the Huskies offense pressured the back line of Notre Dame. Lea Gruennagel (Homburg, Germany/Saginaw Valley State) broke through and had a look at net, but the ball went just wide of the line in the 63^rd minute.
 
Notre Dame were able to break through for a third goal in the 66^th minute and added a fourth in the 78^th.
 
NIU equaled the Fighting Irish with 10 shots in the second half. Five of the Huskies seven shots on goal came in the final 45.
 
"Our forwards and midfielders were brilliant," O'Neill said. "We created some really good chances and just couldn't put one past their keeper. It's who we are and who we want to be. Eastern Illinois will be a completely different opponent on Sunday. It won't be the bright lights but will come down to if we have the effort and energy for Sunday."
 
Huskie goalkeeper Ary Purifoy (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) made four saves and took the loss while Kasica made seven saves and earned the win.
 
NIU is back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Eastern Illinois in Charleston.
 
-- NIU --