Sept. 23, 2012

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind.- Shannon Coley made eight saves for Oakland (3-3-3) in a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame (7-3-1) on Sunday at the Alumni Soccer Complex. The Golden Grizzlies held the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard for the first 68 minutes of the match.

"We played a very good opponent and the team did an excellent job," said head coach Nick O'Shea. "We ran with Notre Dame for most of the game, but unfortunately, they eventually broke us down and got a goal which led to a couple more. I felt that Alyssa Fulton, Kara Weber and Sarah Reynolds did an excellent job in the back, dealing with the quality forwards from Notre Dame."

The Golden Grizzlies went into the half on a positive note, with the score tied 0-0. Coley had the key play in the half on a point-blank save on a breakaway shot by Crystal Thomas. Oakland's offense also put pressure on the Notre Dame defense with a pair of dangerous set plays and a late flourish after the introduction of Marlen Knoph.

Oakland was able to frustrate Notre Dame in the second half, until a goal by Thomas in the 69th minute. Cari Roccaro started the play by beating her defender and playing a square pass to Lauren Bohaboy who fired a shot towards the goal. Coley made the save on the Bohaboy shot, but the rebound fell to Thomas for the tap-in goal.

With Oakland pushing forward, Notre Dame added goals by Roccaro and Anna Gilbertson to push the final margin to three. Despite being outshot 22-2, the match was close between the two teams for most of the game.

"We're where we need to be heading into Summit League play," concluded O'Shea.

The Golden Grizzlies will open up Summit League play on Sunday with a match at Omaha kicking off at 1 p.m. ET.

-OAKLAND WOMEN'S SOCCER-