CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- #Lauren Acker# scored two goals and Notre Dame battled back from a 1-0 deficit to hand host Cedarville its first conference loss in a 2-1 Falcon win Saturday.  (Box)

Notre Dame (5-5, 2-2 American Mideast) scored a second-half goal after spotting the Lady Jackets a 1-0 lead in the first. Acker then scored the game-winner in the 109th minute of the match, in what was a second overtime period. The game marked the first loss in American Mideast Conference play for the Lady Jackets (5-4, 3-1) this season.

The 2-1 victory figures as a bit of a surprise, considering the recent fortunes of the Lady Jackets and Falcons. CU had won each of its four previous matches, all by shutout. Notre Dame had lost two of their last three and had scored just six goals in seven September matches.

Cedarville scored in the eighth minute when Bennett booted a punt that was collected by Kelsey Watkins, who then floated a shot over Falcon keeper #Emilie Lamarche#. That goal held up as the only in the first half, with the Lady Jackets outshooting the Falcons, 8-6.

In the second, NDC got their offense in gear. The Falcons had a number of quality scoring chances throughout most of the period. They finally landed one at 75:53 when #Morgan Lichtinger# got a hold of a loose ball in traffic that she shuffled over to Acker, who scored what was Notre Dame's first goal in over 200 minutes of action, dating back to NDC's 2-1 loss to Walsh on Sept. 22.

Notre Dame managed just one more shot the rest of the period. Lamarche made a save on a Rachel Brown header at 89:03 to preserve the 1-1 tie and send the match into overtime. Lamarche would finish with three saves on the afternoon.

The two teams played a scoreless first overtime. NDC then started off the second extra frame with a pair of quality shots - one from Acker and one from #Anic McKay#; both were turned away.

Cedarville then took control of the action. The Lady Jackets had three corners between 106:43 and 107:27, but the Falcons held CU without a shot.

Less than a minute later, at 108:20, Acker got a chance for the golden goal, and the two-year starter delivered. Taking control of a loose ball after a misplay in the box, Acker slid a shot into an empty net, sealing a crucial road win for NDC.

For the 108-minute match, Cedarville outshot NDC, 18-16. Acker took six of those shots; #Lauren Kobylik# took five.

The win comes on the heels of the Falcons' Sept. 30 victory over No. 22 Houghton (N.Y.) and it evens Notre Dame's record in the AMC standings, with their two wins coming against the top two teams in the league.

“We played very well today,” said Head Coach #Mike Shiels#, “but we sure put ourselves under a lot of pressure falling behind early. “Lauren did a great job getting on the end of a couple in the box and scoring a couple of good goals.”

The Falcons will look to build on Saturday's AMC win in their next match, which is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 7, on the road at Ursuline. Kickoff in Pepper Pike, Ohio, is scheduled for 7 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

FIRST ACKT: Lauren Acker's game-tying goal marked the first goal of her career. The sophomore defender from Westlake, Ohio, came into Saturday's match with 12 career shots in 25 matches. Acker had six shots at Cedarville on Saturday, four of which were on goal.

TWO-FOR-TWO: Saturday's contest marked NDC's second overtime match this season. Notre Dame defeated St. Francis (Ill.), 1-0, on a #Katie Christensen# goal back on Sept. 13. … The Falcons were winless (0-1-1) in two overtime matches last season.

KICKING BACK: NDC has now beaten CU in back-to-back seasons (2-0 win in Lyndhurst, Oct. 14, 2008), after losing each of their first four meetings with the Lady Jackets. … The Falcons are now 11-2 in 13 October contests since 2007.