First half effort proves to be enough in Notre Dame’s win over Saxony Lutheran

The Notre Dame Bulldogs used a two-goal first half to beat the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders 2-0 on Wednesday at Notre Dame Regional High School.

The first 25 minutes of the match were rather uneventful until the Bulldogs’ Addison Clippard buried a rebound to make it 1-0.

“That really picked us up,” senior Anna Garner said. “I felt like we were working so hard to get so many opportunities. When we get one it’s good to see our work paying off.”

Shortly after Clippard’s goal, Garner scored a goal of her own to make it 2-0 Bulldogs late in the first half.

“This was my first time playing forward,” Garner said. “I just got to the middle and I was open so I was calling for it and I shot it and it went in.”

Bulldogs coach Ryan Schweain said not only is Garner’s skill important for the team but also her leadership.

“Her leadership is outstanding,” Schweain said. “She’s an integral part of the team.”

Despite the two-goal lead at halftime, Schweain and the Bulldogs weren’t comfortable.

“There’s still some nerves in play,” Schweain said. “You still want to work on a few things and continue to build off those two goals but it was enough to hold.”

Garner echoed Schweain’s sentiments about the two-goal lead at halftime.

“A two-goal lead at halftime is really dangerous,” Garner said. “I felt like we made sure we weren’t just going to let them do whatever. We still had to work hard to make sure they didn’t score.”

With the win Notre Dame improves to 6-1-2 on the young season and they now set their sights on the Fralish Showcase that takes place in Carbondale, Illinois.

“We’ll play some really good teams,” Schewain said. “It’s going to be a tough weekend.”

“We just hope to get better,” Garner said. “Looking at the end of the season we just hope it prepares us for that.”

Notre Dame will play on Friday, April 14 against Belleville East and on Saturday, April 15 against Anna-Jonesboro and St. Charles East.

Saxony Lutheran (3-2) will also play in the Fralish Showcase in Carbondale, Illinois on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15.