ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- An eight-match unbeaten streak (7-0-1) came to an end Tuesday evening in Rochester, as Roberts Wesleyan nipped Notre Dame, 1-0, in a clash of conference contenders.  The loss is the Falcons' first in the American Mideast Conference (AMC) this season and their first since Sept. 13.  The result of the match flip-flopped the second and third-place teams in the league standings; NDC came into the game in second place, Roberts in third.

Roberts Wesleyan (11-5-1, 9-3 AMC) got the game-winning score from freshman forward Erika Luedke (Greece, N.Y.) in the 73rd minute of the match Tuesday.  Her goal would stand up the rest of the way, with the Raiders outshooting the Falcons, 8-5, in the second period. 

The two sides played an even first period.  Notre Dame (9-3-1, 8-1-1) and Roberts went to halftime with a 0-0 score and the Raiders holding a 6-4 edge in shots.   

RWC then outplayed the Falcons in the second, creating more scoring opportunities in front of the NDC goal and sophomore keeper Emilie Lamarche (Rockland, Ont.).  Luedke's goal, her 13th of the season, came with just under 18 minutes remaining in the match.

Roberts Wesleyan out-shot Notre Dame, 14-9, for the 90 minutes.  In the second half against the Falcons, the Raiders also held a substantial edge in quality scoring chances.  RWC came into the match ranked 13th in the nation in shots per game (21.9) and 10th in shots on goal (13.1). 

Sophomore forward Ashley Rucker (Rocky River, Ohio) managed three shots (two on goal) in the match to lead NDC.  She was blanked in goals and assists for the first time in five matches.  With 17 points (8G, 1A), Rucker is Notre Dame's top scorer this season.

The loss for Notre Dame ends their unbeaten streak at eight.  That falls one match short of the 7-0-2 streak that the team went on to start the 2007 season. 

The Falcons' first conference loss pushes them into third place in the AMC, with 25 points on the year.  That's now two points behind RWC (27 points) and a full game behind AMC-leader Houghton-N.Y. (28).  The Falcons do have an edge, however, with their remaining slate of games – Houghton plays two more AMC games; NDC will play three more, and the combined record of their three opponents is 12-25-8 (.356).

The Falcons will kick off that trio of games on Saturday, Oct. 25, when they host Rio Grande.  Kickoff against the Red Storm is slated for 11 a.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

FREQUENT FOES:  Before Tuesday's tilt in Rochester, Notre Dame and Roberts had faced each other nine times over the previous seven seasons (2001-07), with RWC holding a 6-3 edge in those contests.  The Falcons and Raiders have also met in AMC postseason play each of the last two years, with NDC coming out on top.  In the last three years (2005-07), the Falcons hold a 3-2 edge in the series, with each side scoring five goals.  … With Tuesday's loss, Notre Dame is now 1-4 all-time in five games at Roberts Wesleyan.

RARE OCCURENCE:  The loss for Notre Dame is just their second in conference play over the last two seasons (2007-08).  The Falcons' last loss in the circuit, also by one goal (1-0), came to Houghton on Sept. 27, 2007.  Prior to the loss in Rochester, NDC had been 16-1-1 over their last 18 conference tilts.