CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 11/15 Clemson (4-4, 1-3 ACC) upset No. 6/7 Notre Dame (5-2, 2-2 ACC), 13-9, securing the Tigers’ first conference win of the 2026 season on Sunday afternoon at Conklin Field.
Clemson battled through a back-and-forth opening quarter before taking control across the middle periods. The Tigers created separation in the second quarter with efficient free-position execution and disruptive defensive pressure to carry a 7–5 lead into halftime. Clemson extended the margin after the break with an early scoring burst that pushed the advantage to five. Notre Dame responded with timely player-up finishes in the fourth but the Tigers answered each push, highlighted by a draw-to-goal sequence from Kayla MacLeod and a late Brooke Goldstein strike to secure the 13–9 victory.
Regan Byrne led the offense with a new season-high five goals in a single game. A few other notable numbers include Byrne surpassing 70 career goals and 75 career points, MacLeod reaching 100 career points and Natalie Shurtleff becoming the third Tiger to exceed 100 draw controls. Shurtleff, Goldstein and Aubrie Eisfeld each scored two goals. Alexa Spallina had five points on the day, netting a goal of her own and recording five four assists. Tessa DeLuca controlled the cage for a full 60 minutes, collecting her second career win.
FIRST QUARTER | 4-4, TIED
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish struck first after capitalizing on a Clemson penalty, as Kate Timarky converted a woman-up opportunity at the 12:09 mark for her 18th goal of the season. The Irish doubled their early momentum with strong draw control but Clemson Tigers responded during their own extra-player chance. Eisfeld evened the score at 1-1 with a man-up finish off a sharp feed from Marleigh O’Day.
Notre Dame regained the lead when Timarky found the net again, assisted by Emma Murphy, but Eisfeld answered quickly with her second goal of the period to tie the game at 2-2. Clemson then surged ahead behind Byrne, who finished a setup from Spallina to give the Tigers their first lead.
After winning the ensuing draw, Clemson extended the advantage during another woman-up sequence. Shurtleff buried a Spallina assist to push the margin to 4-2.
Emma Murphy converted a free-position opportunity, and Grace Maroney followed with a late equalizer off a Meghan O’Hare assist. Strong draw work from Notre Dame helped them control the final possessions and send both teams into the break deadlocked at four.
SECOND QUARTER | 7-5, CLEMSON
Clemson Tigers broke the deadlock midway through the period when Byrne converted a free-position opportunity at the 9:13 mark, giving the Tigers a 5-4 edge with her 11th goal of the season.
Notre Dame answered quickly. Madison Rassas finished an assisted look from Maura Irish to even the score at 5-5 following strong draw control and a settled offensive set.
The Tigers then capitalized on a power play chance when Shurtleff buried a woman-up goal off a crisp feed from Goldstein to reclaim the lead.
Clemson extended its advantage in transition. Byrne struck again for her second goal of the quarter, pushing the margin to two and giving the Tigers a 7-5 cushion.
Late defensive pressure preserved the lead, highlighted by Camryn Pfundstein forcing a turnover and collecting the ground ball in the final seconds to close the half.
THIRD QUARTER | 11-7, CLEMSON
Clemson Tigers opened the half with immediate control as Bridget Babcock secured the draw and jump-started an early scoring run. Byrne finished an Emma Penczek feed at the 14:13 mark to extend the lead, then Clemson struck again while a player down. Spallina converted a man-down opportunity off a Babcock assist to push the margin to four.
Clemson’s defensive pressure continued to dictate tempo. Forced turnovers and clean clears set up Goldstein’s unassisted finish, stretching the advantage to 10-5 and prompting a timeout from Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish halted the surge with a free-position conversion from Angie Conley, trimming the deficit to four. The Irish defense tightened briefly, but Clemson regained attacking rhythm late in the period.
Byrne completed her hat trick of the half with a decisive strike off a Spallina assist, restoring a five-goal cushion at 11-6.
Notre Dame answered in the closing minutes as Charley Bacigalupo finished a Kate Timarky setup, but Clemson maintained possession control down the stretch to carry an 11-7 lead into the final quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER | 13-9, CLEMSON
Notre Dame applied early pressure but DeLuca anchored the Clemson defense with a save to keep the four-goal cushion intact. Possession traded hands through the opening minutes before the Irish capitalized on a player-up opportunity. Rassas converted a woman-up finish off an Emma Murphy assist to trim the margin to three.
Clemson Tigers answered immediately off the draw. Shurtleff secured possession and sparked the response, leading to MacLeod’s unassisted strike that not only restored a four-goal advantage at 12-8 but also marked her 100th career point.
Clemson forced multiple turnovers, highlighted by Teagan Scott’s caused turnovers and ground ball work to halt Irish momentum. After a sustained possession and timeout, the Tigers broke through again when Goldstein finished a feed from Spallina, extending the lead to five.
Notre Dame converted one final extra-player chance as Kate Timarky netted a woman-up goal to make it 13-9, but Clemson controlled the closing possessions and cleared cleanly to secure the win.
STATS RECAP
UP NEXT
Clemson will head to Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday, March 14 to face No. 20/21 Virginia.
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