COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Head coach Brian Coughlin of No. 5-ranked/Midwest Division Champion the University of Notre Dame utilized four goal performances by Grace Kellerman (Sr., San Diego, Calif.) and Lauren Rodenberg (Jr., El Dorado Hills, Calif.) along with an eight save effort from goalkeeper Olivia Sanders (Fr., Erie, Pa.) as the Irish trio share Player of the Game honors in an 11-4 defeat of No. 14/Rocky Mountain Division Champion the University of Colorado during the opening round of the 2024 Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship.
Competing at Texas A&M University’s Student Rec Center, the Blue & Gold overcame a slow start in the first quarter to outscore the Buffaloes 3-1, 5-1 and 2-1 in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, to punch the program’s ticket to a quarterfinal showdown on Saturday, May 4, at 11:20 a.m. Central against No. 4/Pacific Coast Division Champion the University of California-Los Angeles. UCLA earned a spot in the quarterfinals by downing No. 20/New York Division Champion Cornell University in the second game of the 30-contest Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship.
Colorado falls into the consolation side of the 16-team championship bracket as the Buffaloes will face Cornell at 8:45 p.m. Central this evening. Due to the loss, Colorado can not finish higher than Ninth Place in the final championship standings.
Notre Dame – which has placed second (2009, 2015), fourth (2002), sixth (2001, 2010), seventh (2000, 2023), ninth (2006, 2013, 2014), 10th (2008, 2019, 2022), 11th (2007, 2011) and 12th (2012) in the championship’s history – never trailed as Emily Shank (Sr., Fullerton, Calif.) converted a man-up chance with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter for a 1-0 lead. Peyton Schmitz responded less than three minutes later at the 1:43 mark to balance the scoreboard at one-all after seven minutes of action.
Kellerman pushed the Irish back out in front 18 seconds into the second quarter (6:42), but a power-play strike from Linda Ngo with 5:07 until halftime leveled the damage at two-all.
Needing a surge to gain some momentum, Coughlin turned to the duo of Rodenberg and Kellerman who dropped the hammer by heaving in natural tallies at 4:14 and 3:52, respectively, to place the Irish in front to stay at 4-2 heading into halftime.
The third quarter was land of the leprechauns as Rodenberg (6:08; 1:39), Shank (5:49), Kellerman (4:27) and Grace Christopher (So., Homer Glen, Ill.) (3:30) made it a 9-2 contest by Colorado’s Morgan Bruun-Jensen delivered for the Buffaloes at 1:19 to set the scoreboard at 9-3 entering the fourth quarter.
Rodenberg (6:01) and Kellerman (4:30) wrapped up the Irish’s offensive exploits in the first four minutes of the final frame prior to Schmitz beating the final buzzer by denting the twine with four seconds left to establish the 11-4 concluding score.
For Notre Dame, Rodenberg (four), Kellerman (four) and Shank (two) combined for 10 of the Irish’s 11 goals with Christopher slipping in a solo tally to aid Sanders.
Colorado – which previously garnered 11th (2023), 13th (2018) and Eighth (2003) place finishes at the Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship – received scoring from Schmitz (two), Bruun-Jensen and Ngo along with 11 saves from goalkeeper Sophie Simpson.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 14 University of Colorado |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 4 |
| No. 5 University of Notre Dame | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | – | 11 |
| Notre Dame Goals: | Lauren Rodenberg (4); Grace Kellerman (4); Emily Shank (2); Grace Christopher | |||||
| Colorado Goals: | Peyton Schmitz (2); Morgan Bruun-Jensen; Linda Ngo | |||||
| Saves: | Notre Dame – Olivia Sanders (8) ; Colorado – Sophie Simpson (11) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Notre Dame – 5 ; Colorado – 3 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Notre Dame – 1-for-3 ; Colorado – 1-for-5 | |||||
| Sprints: | Notre Dame – 3-for-4 (2nd, 3rd, 4th); Colorado – 1-for-4 (1st) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Edwin Barrera, Bruce Morehouse | |||||
The University of Notre Dame’s Grace Kellerman (#2) & the University of Colorado’s Isabelle Hardie (#7)
The University of Colorado’s Peyton Schmitz (#20) attempts to stymie the University of Notre Dame’s Grace Christopher (#13)
University of Notre Dame’s Grace Kellerman (#2) looks to move the ball forward through the University of Colorado’s Sofia Goicoechea (#10) & Morgan Bruun-Jensen (#24)
