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The observer | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Women’s Soccer
Cross Country
Irish triumph against NC State Observer Sports Staff
On Friday night, Notre Dame women’s soccer notched a fourth consecutive ACC w in to extend their unbeaten conference run, dow ning North Carolina State 2-1 in Raleigh. Freshman midfielder Korbin A lbert started the Irish off early, collecting a loose ball after the Wolfpack failed to fully clear a corner kick and bending a shot past the near post and into the back of the net just three minutes in. Another freshman would then double the lead for Notre Dame. Defender Katie Coyle ran onto a loose, def lected ball and fired it across the face of the goal w ith her left foot to make it 2-0. North Carolina State would ruin goalkeeper Ashley Naylor’s clean sheet bid in the final minute, pulling one back by way
of a Jenna Butler strike, but the Irish ensured the final thirt y seconds after the Wolfpack goal went w ithout incident to leave Raleigh w ith a v ictor y. The w in puts Notre Dame at 4-0 in conference play heading into a v isit from Louisv ille on Thursday, and it’s hard to imagine Nate Norman could have draw n up a better first half of the season for his team, especially given the circumstances faced early on. A season-ending injur y to goalie Mattie Interian just four games into the season against Marquette was cause for some serious fear about Notre Dame’s long-term v iabilit y as an ACC contender, especially after the Irish conceded three goals to Missouri just two games later, but the see W SOCCER PAGE 13
Irish perform in Joe Piane Invitational showing By NATE MOLLER Sports Writer
ANNA MASON | The Observer
Irish senior Matthew Carmody posted a stellar performance in a 2019 race run at Notre Dame’s Burke Golf Course.
The men’s and women’s cross country team competed this past Friday at the Joe Piane Invitational at the Burke Golf Course. The men’s team held out seven of their top runners from the meet, but the team was still able to place eleventh overall and beat some nationally ranked teams. Head men’s cross country coach Sean Carlson discussed what Friday’s race meant for his team. “There were fourteen schools receiving votes for national polls, which means we beat some nationally ranked teams while holding out some of our top guys,” Carlson said. “It was really exciting, and it was a really good experience for some of our younger guys to gain some more racing experience in a big meet setting.” Senior Matthew Carmody led the way for the Irish on Friday, completing the 5 mile race in a time of 23:22.6, which was good for fourth place overall. Carlson talked about what see XC PAGE 13
SWIMMING & DIVING
Head swim coach Mike Litzinger resigns, retires from collegiate coaching career By MADELINE LADD Sports Writer
The University of Notre Dame announced Monday that Mike Litzinger had resigned from his position as head sw im coach at Notre Dame and that he intends to retire from coaching. This would have been Litzinger’s sixth season coaching at Notre Dame and his 20th season as a collegiate sw im coach. “Making changes in the leadership of one of our programs is never easy, especially at the start of the competitive season,” vice president and James E. Rohr director of athletics Jack Swarbrick said. “But recent events convinced Mike and me that a change in the direction of our program was necessar y.” The University has
given no specific reason for his resignation. The announcement Monday also noted associate head coach Aaron Bell is no longer w ith the Irish. The dive team at Notre Dame w ill remain under the leadership of Mark Bradshaw, who has been w ith the University since the summer of 2020. Litzinger and the University were sued for gender discrimination in May. Former assistant coach April Jensen alleged Litzinger had created an “intolerable” work environment by discriminating against her due to her pregnancy. Litzinger reassigned Jensen’s coaching group when she returned from maternity leave, which Jensen alleges is equivalent to a demotion. A federal judge dismissed the see LITZINGER PAGE 13
ALLISON THORNTON | The Observer
Junior Irish swimmer Sydney Winters starts her backstroke race, in which she placed sixth. The competition was held against Northwestern at the Rolf ’s Aquatic Center on Jan. 17, 2020.
