NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- On Saturday, Notre Dame remained unbeaten (7-0-1) over their last eight matches with a 2-1 win over the Walsh Cavaliers. Notre Dame (9-2-1, 8-0-1 AMC).  After trailing 1-0 for much of a hard-fought match, Notre Dame got goals from Ashley Rucker (So./Rocky River, Ohio) and Jessica Skoien (Sr./Rowland Heights, Calif.), the latter of which came in the 89th minute of the match.

The victory on the road in North Canton keeps the 21st-ranked Falcons unbeaten (8-0-1) in the American Mideast Conference (AMC).  It also came at the expense of a Cavalier team that had been playing exceptionally well as of late.  Walsh (8-6-1, 6-3-1) came into Saturday's match unbeaten (3-0-1) over their previous four matches.  They outscored opponents, 8-3, in that stretch. 

What's more, Cavaliers had dominated the Falcon program in recent history. Before Saturday's Falcon win, Walsh had beaten NDC eight straight times.  In that stretch (1998-2005), the Cavaliers had outscored the Falcons, 28-3.  The match marked the first in the series since 2005. 

“This was a physical match,” said head coach Mike Shiels.  “Walsh was tough.  Both teams were out there really challenging each other.  It wasn't pretty, but we scraped out a win.”

With the victory Saturday in North Canton, Notre Dame remains unbeaten in road matches this season.  In five road tilts, the Falcons are now 4-0-1.

Notre Dame will be on the road again Tuesday, when they continue their AMC season at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.).  Kickoff in Rochester is scheduled for 5 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

EIGHTS ARE WILD:  Ashley Rucker's game-tying goal at Walsh was her team-leading eighth of the season. Her eight goals ranks tied for eighth in the AMC.  The goal marked her first game-tying netfinder of the season; she also has two game-winners among her '08 scores. … Rucker has now scored at least one point in four straight matches.

LA-MILESTONE:  Sophomore goalkeeper Emilie Lamarche (Rockland, Ont.) reached 150 career saves during the Walsh match.  The 5-foot-9 netminder came into the match with a career save percentage of .896.  Lamarche has 17 shutouts in her two seasons thus far on College Road.