ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- Notre Dame came into Friday's NAIA tournament semifinal game having already tallied 90 goals in the 2010 season. Now, after a 1-0 victory over No. 7 Mobile (Ala.), the second-ranked Falcons have their collective eyes on just one goal -- a national title.

With a second-half goal by junior midfielder Luke Holmes, No. 2 (NAIA Coaches' Poll) Notre Dame (23-0-0) turned away the local 11 and advanced to the title game of the 2010 NAIA National Championship Tournament.

In downing No. 7 Mobile (17-3-2), Notre Dame continues its undefeated season and will now play in the tournament's championship game Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. The Falcons will meet the winner of the tournament's other semifinal game -- Hastings (Neb.) vs. William Jewell (Mo.); that game was slated to be played Friday evening after the NDC-Mobile tilt.

“This is what this group of young men set out to do this year,” said Notre Dame Head Coach Michael “Mac” McBride, who has been the bench boss of the NDC program since its inception in 2001. “The lads fought so hard to get here and today they fought hard to get that much closer to their goal.”

The two teams played a scoreless first half in which they combined to tally as many yellow cards as shots on goal (three). The Falcons landed two of those on seven shots, while the Rams put one on net in eight attempts. One of those eight was turned away not by NDC keeper Alex Klein, but by the metallic thud of the crossbar over Klein's shoulder.

That clanking shot came in the final minute of the first half, and with the ball deflected away from the nylon behind Klein, Head and the Falcons found themselves without a first-half marker for a third straight match in the national tournament and for an eighth time this season.

In each of the seven previous games when Notre Dame was denied a goal in the first, the team was able to come through in the second. Friday would be no different.

NDC didn't manage its eighth shot of the contest until the 14th minute of the second stanza. But for the Falcons and their fans, the wait was worthwhile. That eighth shot came courtesy Luke Holmes, who came into the game ranked fifth in the NAIA in goals scored, with 21. When the shot came to rest, Holmes had climbed a little higher on that list. His 22nd goal of the season was recorded at 58:07 on the game clock, and it broke the scoreless tie with the Rams.

Mobile fought back with two quick shots, but both were turned away by Klein, who finished the game with four saves in garnering his 22nd win in a clutch shutout.

"The back four really looked after Alex today," said McBride. "Mobile has an attacking mindset and to keep them scoreless was quite a feat."


Mobile -- the champions of the Southern States Athletic Conference -- came into Friday's game averaging 20.0 shots per game; the NDC defense held the Rams to eight shots in the second half and 16 for the match.

On offense Notre Dame recorded 10 shots, four of which were on goal. Holmes led the way with four shots.

The 2010 tournament marks the NAIA's 52nd annual culminating event in Men's Soccer. The University of Mobile is the tournament's host, and the Rams are no stranger to success in the national brackets. With Friday's game against the Falcons, Mobile has now played in seven semifinal matches in 14 tournament appearances. UM had been 3-3 in its previous semifinal games -- the Rams advanced to the NAIA final in 1994 and 1999; they advanced and won a national championship in 2002.

Notre Dame came into Friday's contest as a de facto visiting team, despite its No. 2 national ranking and No. 4 seed in the 31-team tournament. And the Falcons came in less seasoned than the Rams -- NDC is playing in its fourth tournament. But the 2010 edition of Notre Dame Men's Soccer is tournament tested -- the Falcons have now advanced to the national bracket event in three straight seasons (2008-10).

And that Falcon team is now one game away from the ultimate measure of experience. Its goal is in sight.