ASHLAND, Ohio – For the first time in program history, Notre Dame has started a season with four consecutive wins. Thanks to a golden goal by striker #Luke Holmes#, the Blue & White defeated the Ashland Eagles, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday afternoon. (Box)

Holmes was once again the Falcons' match winner as he had also scored Notre Dame's lead in the first half of play. The sophomore has found the back of the net eight times this season and has now scored 25 goals in 24 career matches for the Blue & White. 

The win for NDC provided a bit of retribution for a tough loss last season, when NDC had a seven match win streak snapped in a 2-1 loss to Ashland in Lyndhurst (Oct. 8). 

In what Notre Dame Head Coach #Michael “Mac” McBride# called “a good team effort,” the Falcons outshot Ashland, 16-13, on Sunday and bested the Eagles in shots on goal, 8-5. 

Goalie #Craig Pickering# played all 97 minutes and made four saves in the NDC victory. 

As in their previous three matches this season, the Falcons took the lead in the first half. After several failed attempts by midfielders #Tom Mellor# (3./11.), #Jonathan Morris# (6.), striker #Luke Jackson# (13.) and Holmes (22.), it was a set piece that put Notre Dame in front. In the 23rd minute Holmes struck a 25-yard free kick into the top left corner past the Eagles' freshman goalie, Justin Nolan. 

The lead would stand until the break and through most of the second half. The Blue & White looked as if they would win their fourth straight match in regulation, but with only 3:43 left on the clock the Eagles themselves converted a free kick. From 30 yards out, sophomore Kenny Hewitt bent the leather into the top left corner past Pickering to tie the game. 

That netfinder by the home squad sent the match into overtime where Holmes proved to be golden once again. In the 97th minute, a cross into the box by defender #Jacob Sheppard# found Notre Dame's leading scorer who converted from eight yards out to end the game. 

“We needed a match like this before we head off to Alabama,” said McBride, whose team had come to Ashland in between two out-of-state trips. 

Last week, the Falcons had visited Illinois where they defeated the Taylor Trojans (11-1) and Indiana Wesleyan (2-1). This week, they will head south to Mobile, Ala., where they take on two nationally ranked teams from California. On Friday, Sept. 11, Notre Dame will face No. 10 Azusa Pacific. A day later, the Blue & White will meet No. 5 Concordia. 


NOTES FROM THE NEST… 

FANTASTIC FOUR: For the first time in program history, Notre Dame has started a season with four straight wins. The only other time the Falcons went undefeated in their first four matches was in 2007, when they beat Culver-Stockton-Calif. (2-0), Ashland (4-2) and St. Francis-Ill. (8-0), and tied St. Amrose-Iowa (2-2). 

OVERTIME DRAMA: Over the past nine years, the Falcons have gone into overtime in 20 matches. They are now 8-5-7 in those matches. 

GROUNDING THE EAGLES: With the narrow defeat, Notre Dame handed Ashland its first loss of the year. The Eagles, ranked No. 19 nationwide in the NSCAA DII poll this week, are 2-1-1 on the season. NDC and AU have faced off seven times over the past nine years. The Falcons have won four of those matches while losing three. They have outscored the Eagles, 15-12, in the seven tilts.