CHICAGO – On Sunday, Notre Dame came up short in their second game of the St. Xavier (IL) Invitational, falling to the Robert Morris (IL) Eagles by a score of 2-1.
The Falcons scored the first goal of the game in the 17th minute as Natalie Bernot (Sr./Mentor, OH) was able to connect off a corner kick, curving the ball around the RMC goalkeeper. The goal marked Bernot's first of the season; she led the Falcons in scoring last season with 20 points (7G, 6A).
The Eagles were able to draw even in the 32nd minute on a penalty kick set up by a Notre Dame foul in the box. The score remained tied at the halftime break. The two teams combined for 26 shots (NDC 14, RMC 12) in the first half, but were only able to find the net once each.
The second half started off with back and forth action at both ends of the field. Sophomore goalkeeper Emilie LaMarche (Rockland, ONT) made a pair of saves to keep the Falcons even. However, she was unable to stop the game-winning shot off the foot of Maria Shipe in the 58th minute. Shipe received a cross, and slotted the ball into the left side of the goal, past a diving LaMarche.
NDC was unable to tie the game despite creating several strong scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of play.
“It's definitely disappointing to lose a game we had a chance to win,” said head coach Mike Shiels. "We played well enough to win, but were unable to capitalize on several scoring chances."
For the match, Notre Dame outshot the Eagles, 23-18. La Marche finished the game with nine saves.
The Falcons will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Mount Vernon, Ohio, for the Cougar Classic. Their first opponent will be the host school, Mount Vernon Nazarene University - they'll take on the Cougars Friday at 4:00 p.m.
NEWS FROM THE NEST…
SO CLOSE: Notre Dame split a pair of one-goal games over the weekend. In 2007, the Falcons were 5-2 in games decided by one goal. ... NDC scored one goal in each game in Chicago. The Falcons have now scored one goal or less in nine of their last 12 matches.
MEET THE EAGLES: Robert Morris College is located in Chicago. They compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). In 2007, the Eagles had a string of six consecutive league crowns snapped by Notre Dame's Saturday foe - St. Xavier (IL). In 2004, RMC advanced to the NAIA Final Four, finishing the season ranked No. 2. The Eagles finished 2007 with a record of 10-9-1. ... Sunday's match marked the first-ever meeting between Notre Dame and Robert Morris.
TOURNEY TIME: With their weekend split, Notre Dame is now 4-1-1 in two-day invitationals over the last two seasons.
