SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The #18^th-ranked Notre Dame Women's Soccer team handed the #2 Virginia Cavaliers their first loss of the 2022 season on Thursday at home, winning 1-0.

The win marked Notre Dame's first against a top-two opponent since 2015, and moves the Irish to 8-1-0 on the year.

Despite their highly-touted offense, the Cavaliers struggled against the Irish backline, only generating one shot-on-goal to Notre Dame's eight.

The only score of the contest came off of a Korbin Albert corner kick late in the 76^th minute. The ball bounced from player-to-player before midfielder Maddie Mercado pushed the ball into the back of the net.

With six goals on the season, Mercado has already set a career high in scores, with eight games remaining in the regular season. The score was also Mercado's third game-winning goal of the season, a team-best.

Notre Dame Women's Soccer will finish their homestand against Pitt on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.