Notre Dame soccer falls in PKs to Helias

After a scoreless regulation and overtime sessions, Helias hit its first two kicks, while Notre Dame was only one of five to let the Crusaders slip by with a 2-1 decision.

Helias goalkeeper Jorden Bax knocked aside three Notre Dame kicks, while Notre Dame keeper Ryan Bass rolled the last shot wide left of the goal after Bex had committed to the right.

It was a heartbreaker for Notre Dame, and particularly Bass, who made some point-blank saves to keep two-time defending state champion in the contest with Helias.

"Bass is a warrior," Notre Dame senior midfielder Joda Holloway said. "If it wasn't for Bass, we wouldn't be here this year. He's consistently amazing and he was amazing again today.

"There are some saves that he made that were better than any saves I've ever seen him make."

Bass was under plenty of pressure in the first half, when Helias had the better of play but there were few good shots taken.

While Notre Dame had more possessions in the second half, Helias also had good opportunities with Bass forced to make one diving save on a point-blank shot 14 minutes in and one by deflecting a Helias forward who came in on a one-on-one opportunity.

Notre Dame had three corner kicks to Helias' one in regulation.

"I thought we were going to get one before the end of the game," Holloway said.

The Bulldogs came out firing in the overtime with some early opportunities and four more corner kicks in the first 15-minute session to Helias' one.

The best chance may have been a header by John Unterreiner after Notre Dame had a restart after a foul, but Bax deflected it over the net.

Bass in the second 15 minutes deflected one shot over the net and smothered a restart kick after a Notre Dame foul.

In PKs, Notre Dame's Josh Robert and Brock Dirnberger had their shots blocked by Bax, while Conor Dermody and Forrest McCurren converted for Helias. Joe Froemsdorf rolled one for Notre Dame and Bass blocked Helias' third shot. Bax and Bass both made saves in fourth frame, and when Bass missed his kick, Helias clinched the win.

"Both keepers had such a great game, you hate to put it on them," Helias coach Chuck Register said. "But one's got to win, one's got to lose, we've got to go on."

Helias will go on to Saturday's final, while Notre Dame will play at 11 a.m. in the third-place game.