LYNDHURST, Ohio – #Emilie Lamarche# made eight saves and #Lauren Acker# scored the match's only goal, as Notre Dame won for the fourth straight time Wednesday, defeating Malone, 1-0. (Box)

The match at Korb Field marked the Falcons' first at home since Sept. 26 and first of five consecutive home matches. With the win, Notre Dame (7-5, 4-2 American Mideast) moves to two games over .500 in the AMC standings.

Both sides played to a scoreless first half, with Notre Dame out-shooting Malone, 12-5. The Falcons best scoring chance came in the 40th minute, when #Lauren Kobylik# whistled an 11-yard shot off the right post. Kobylik would finish with a match-high six shots on the afternoon.

In the second, the Pioneers' offense got in gear and put pressure on Lamarche in the early going. MU's Amanda Hanlon missed on a header from point-blank range in the 57th minute in what was the highest-quality scoring in the early moments of the second half. The Pioneers, in fact, got off the first seven shots of the second frame.

Despite the fast start by MU, it was Notre Dame that became the first team to light the Korb Field scoreboard. That goal came on a #Caley Prendergast# corner kick that found Acker, who nodded the leather past Pioneer keeper Sam Brown and into the nylon of the Malone goal.

Malone almost evened the score off a corner of their own in the 82nd minute, when a Katie Heckman header was stymied by Lamarche. That would be the last time the Falcon keeper was tested, as Notre Dame made the goal hold up for their fifth shutout of the season.

The loss for the Pioneers marks their fifth over their last six matches.

Shots in the match were even, with each side connecting on 18.

Notre Dame's next match is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the Falcons host another contender for an AMC playoff spot, the Lady Cougars of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Kickoff in that match is slated for 4 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

ACKER GOES FOURTH: Lauren Acker's goal marked her fourth this season. Three of those have been game-winners for the Falcons, who have outscored foes by a narrow margin this season, 15-13.

SERIES: With their victory in Lyndhurst on Wednesday, Notre Dame cut the Pioneers lead in the all-tine series between the two programs to 9-3. The Falcons have earned those three wins all in succession over the last three seasons, and all three have been via a shutout. … With her 90-minute shutout, Emilie Lamarche has now recorded 20 career shutouts. The junior keeper's career save percentage coming into the match was. 872.