Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Friday, March 29, 2024
The Observer

Notre Dame looks to rebound against Syracuse

After two straight losses, No. 16 Notre Dame will look to rebound Thursday as it takes on conference opponent Syracuse at Alumni Stadium.

For the first time this season, the Irish (8-3-1, 1-3-0 ACC) are coming off back-to-back losses to No. 2 Florida State and Miami (Fla.), but Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo said that despite the recent rough patch, the team is ready to get back on the field.

“I think [the team is] excited to come out against Syracuse,” Romagnolo said. “I think the Miami game was a game we were a bit unlucky not to get the result in that game. So I think they’re excited to get back on the field to play well together, to create opportunities and to play well.”



Irish senior midfielder Glory Williams looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 2-1 win over Santa Clara on Aug. 28 at Alumni Stadium.
Irish senior midfielder Glory Williams looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 2-1 win over Santa Clara on Aug. 28 at Alumni Stadium.
Irish senior midfielder Glory Williams looks to pass during Notre Dame’s 2-1 win over Santa Clara on Aug. 28 at Alumni Stadium.


Creating opportunities is not something the Irish struggled with last time out, as they outshot Miami 16-6 had an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Despite their wealth of chances, the problem has been getting the ball in the back of the net and Romagnolo said the key to accomplishing that is increased chemistry.

“We’ve been working on getting a chemistry going,” Romagnolo said. “This week has been about generating more opportunities for ourselves, getting our rhythm, our chemistry in our attack. I thought [the team] had a very good week.”

Creating new bonds will also be important for the Irish as they will be without senior midfielder Glory Williams indefinitely. Sophomore Taylor Klawunder will start in place of Williams for the third straight game and Romagnolo said the team is getting used to Klawunder’s style of play.

 

“[Williams] brings very unique qualities in terms of her being a captain, her leadership and her experience in there,” Romagnolo said. “But we have so much talent on this team. … Klawunder’s played in there now for two games and she’s playing really well, she’s just a different type of personality. We have to find our personality without [Williams] in there and I think we’re starting to see that now.”

Though the Orange (4-8-1, 0-4-0) are winless in the ACC, Romagnolo believes they are a tough team to beat and said the team needs to be ready to defend at all times.

“Syracuse is going to be a hard-working team,” Romagnolo said. “They’re going to get behind the ball, they’re going to defend well, they’re organized. Like we saw against Miami, it just takes one chance. We have to stay focused and we can’t switch off on any play. … We’ve got to be able to expect that they could attack at any moment and stay organized.”

Romagnolo also said changes may be in place against Syracuse, although she would not say what they were specifically.

“We’re always looking to make adjustments,” Romagnolo said. “I think we look at a game and if things aren’t working, we definitely look to make changes to shake things up.”

Notre Dame is currently tied for ninth place in the ACC and with only six games left, wins will be at a premium for the Irish as they take on Syracuse at 7 p.m. Thursday at Alumni Stadium.