FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Zoe Susi converted a penalty kick in the 81st minute to help No. 6 Arkansas earn a 2-2 draw with No. 2 Notre Dame in a nonconference women’s soccer match Sunday night at Razorback Field.
A crowd of 2,947, the seventh largest in Razorback Field history, watched as the Razorbacks (0-1-1) rallied in the final minutes after trailing late to the Fighting Irish (1-0-1).
Arkansas took an early lead in the sixth minute when junior midfielder Kennedy Ball intercepted a back pass and scored past Notre Dame goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica. Ball’s pressure forced the Irish into a mistake deep in their own half, giving Arkansas an early advantage.
Notre Dame equalized before halftime on a goal from sophomore forward Annabelle Chukwu, who finished a breakaway with a low shot past Arkansas goalkeeper Grace Johnson.
The Irish took a 2-1 lead midway through the second half on a goal from midfielder Izzy Engle, who scored from outside the box.
With less than 10 minutes to play, Ball drove past two Notre Dame defenders on the right side and sent a cross into the box. The ball struck a Notre Dame defender’s hand, resulting in a penalty kick after a replay review. Susi sent her shot into the upper left corner, beating Kasica, who dove the opposite direction.
“I just tried to stay calm and focus on the ball,” Susi said. “We practice these situations all the time. It’s about blocking out the noise and trusting your technique” (SECSports.com).
Both teams pushed for a winner in the final minutes, but neither side was able to break the deadlock. Notre Dame finished with a slight edge in shots, 12-11, and had seven shots on goal to Arkansas’ six. Each goalkeeper recorded four saves, and Notre Dame led in corner kicks, 6-5.
Arkansas coach Colby Hale praised his team’s composure in the late stages. “Ice,” Hale said of Susi’s penalty. “She’s been so good in the last two games. Really, really proud of her” (SI.com).
Notre Dame head coach Nate Norman credited Arkansas’ pressure and the crowd atmosphere. “This is the kind of game that tests you,” Norman said. “Arkansas pressed us all night, but our players responded. It’s never easy on the road in this environment, but I’m proud of our fight and the way we kept pushing to the end” (FightingIrish.com).
The result marked the second consecutive 2-2 draw between Arkansas and Notre Dame. Both teams entered the match ranked in the top 10, and the contest featured several lead changes and momentum swings.
Chukwu and Ball each scored their second goals of the young season. Ball’s two-way play and Susi’s poise in the midfield were key for Arkansas, while Chukwu and Engle led Notre Dame’s attack.
Arkansas will travel to Georgia Southern for its next match on Sunday, Aug. 24. Notre Dame continues its nonconference slate before starting Atlantic Coast Conference play later this month.
The match highlighted the growing profile of women’s soccer in the region, with fans filling Razorback Field and both teams showcasing national championship aspirations. The teams combined for 23 fouls and pressed for a winner until the final whistle, but settled for a result that keeps both unbeaten through two matches.
Arkansas and Notre Dame are expected to remain in the national title conversation as the season progresses. It also showed the Razorbacks can play well enough to stay there.
