LYNDHURST, Ohio -- third-ranked Notre Dame (NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll) (12-0-0, 3-0-0 AMC) were led by three goals and two assists from #Tom Mellor#, a sophomore from Shaw, England as the Falcons defeated AMC foe Malone (4-9-0, 1-3-0 AMC) 7-1.
Fresh off their 25th consecutive week in the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll the Falcons pushed the record setting season to 12 straight wins.
Mellor put his influence on the Falcons 12th straight win and their second highest goal total of the 2010 season with 8 points, through three goals and two assists.
Mellor first set up #Luke Holmes#, a junior from Oldham, England at the 27:30 mark putting the Falcons on top, tying him for tops on the team with Steven Kane at 13.
The reigning AMC Offensive Player of the Week, #Ryan McGreevy#, a freshman from Salford, England dished out his third assist of the year, setting Mellor up at the 38:37 mark for his fourth goal of the season, extending the Falcons lead to 2-0.
Mellor would return the favor to McGreevy just over four minutes later. Mellor would send a picture perfect cross to the penalty mark. McGreevy's header would flick the ball to the back post for his ninth goal and Mellor's 11th assists of the season pushing the Falcons lead to 3-0 at the 41:53 mark. The assist for Mellor moved him one assist ahead of Holmes for the All-Time Assist Record at NDC with 22.
NDC would outshoot the visiting Pioneers 13-6, holding a distinct 5-1 advantage in corners in the opening 45 minutes.
Mellor would open the Falcons second half in style with his second goal of the match assisted by #Mohamet Sougoufara# at the 45:50 mark. Mellor's goal would follow the Falcons recent trend of opening the second period with a quick and impactful goal.
Sougoufara and Mellor would connect just over seven minutes later. Mellor would receive another Sougoufara pass before blasting home his third goal of the game, completing his first ever collegiate hat trick at the 52:55 mark, giving Sougoufara his eighth assist of the season, second best behind Mellor's team leading 11.
Being substituted in the 54th minute, Mellor would receive a rousing applause from the home faithful when coach McBride would substitute his young winger giving him the rest of the day off.
At the 73:42 mark, Malone spoiled the Falcons streak of AMC wins with shutouts and their chance to break the 2005 squad's record nine clean sheets when Kelvin Aquino scored an unassisted goals bringing Malone to 5-1 and snap the Falcons most recent streak of not allowing a goal. The streak included their last four matches spanning over 340 plus minutes. Malone would also end a scoring drought against the Falcons coving 10 seasons. The Pioneers last score against the Falcons came Sept. 18, 2001 in a 3-2 overtime win, their only win against NDC in six matches.
Holmes would look for an immediate response, getting into the Pioneers box, the 2009 NAIA leading scorer would be brought down from behind earning himself a spot kick. Tucking the penalty home at the 74:21 mark leaving the Malone keeper frozen on his line. Holmes goal marked his team leading 14th goal of the season and his 60th career goal, just four behind Falcons all-time leader Jeremy Kephart.
#Carlo Manna#, a freshman from Sydney, Australia picked his head up and looked off two defenders at the 84:21 mark before sending a lofted shot over Pioneers keeper Felipe Monteiro from 20 yards out. Manna's goal pushed the Falcons lead to 7-1 marking the second most goals to be scored this season and his second goal of the season.
For the match the Falcons outshot Malone 30-9, and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. Alex Klein, a junior from Frankfurt Germany, made 4 saves for the Falcons. Pushing his record to 11-0-0, 3-0-0 AMC on the season.
NOTES FROM THE NEST...
STREAKING FALCONS: Notre Dame is tied for the fourth longest active streak of being consecutively ranked in the NAIA Top 25. The NAIA has 220 schools that sponsor men's soccer. Soccer is the largest single division sport for men in the NAIA. Only Men's Basketball has more schools. 261 schools sponsor basketball split between Division I (116) and Division II (145).
POW'S NOT MISSING ACTION: Mohamet Sougoufara, Luke Holmes, Dan Knight, Ryan McGreevy, and Alex Klein have been named AMC Player of the Week this season. Last season the Falcons had players honored four time, Luke Holmes on three occasions and Jonathan Morris once. Craig Pickering, George Kephart, Steven Kane, and Andrew Carr were all recognized once in 2008, the Falcons previous best for individual honors.
BETTERING THE BEST: The Falcons continue to better the 2008 NAIA Tournament squad's nine game winning streak, blowing the 2009 NAIA Tournament squad's previous best of four wins to open a season, surpassed the previous best 3 straight shutouts previously held by the 2004 (twice), 2005 and 2007 squads. And still share the most shutouts in a season (9) with the 2005 squad who made it to the programs first NAIA National Tournament.
