JOLIET, Ill. – The fifth-ranked Falcons (7-0-0) exploded for six first half goals as they defeated Benedictine University of Springfield (Ill.) (1-4-0) 13-0. 

The Falcons outshot the Bulldogs 26-2 in the opening period jumped out to an early lead when Tom Mellor, a sophomore from Shaw, England found Steven Kane at the 1:39 mark. Kane, a senior from Jeromesville, Ohio converted his sixth goal of the year.

Kane would double the Falcons lead with his second goal of the game at the 19:29 mark on an assist from Kyle Hayes, a sophomore from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. 

Continuing to attack the Bulldogs net, Hayes would add his second assist of the match less than three minutes later. Finding Christian Earnest, a sophomore from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Hayes would dish to the speedy striker at the 22:46 mark extending the Falcons lead to 3-0. 

Kane would complete his hat trick unassisted at the 24:24 mark, as the NDC attack continued to pour on the pressure extending their lead to 4-0. 

Luke Holmes, a junior from Oldham, England would be the next Falcon to get on the scoresheet. Holmes led the NAIA and the AMC in goals scored for 2009, had only been kept off the Falcons score line once in the previous six matches, jumped on a Tom Owens ball smashing home his first and the Falcons fifth goal. 

Mohamut Sougarfara, a senior from Dakar, Senegal provided Holmes his second goal of the game at the 36:45 mark ending the Falcons first half tirade. 

The Falcons ended the first half equaling their best goal outburst of the year when they defeated Iowa Wesleyan 6-0 on Sept.4, 2010. 

Continuing a common theme for the Falcons, NDC would attack sending 26 shots at the Bulldogs' goal. For the game the Falcons would outshoot the Bulldogs, 52-3 for the game.

Sougarfara would smash home his second goal of the year at the 52:03 mark, extending the Falcons lead to 7-0. 

Ryan McGreevy and Owens would connect for Owens' second assist of the match and McGreevy's second goal of the season at the 65:16 mark. 

McGreevy would waste little time before grabbing his second goal of the game unassisted at the 68:36 mark pushing the Falcons lead to 9-0. 

The helpless Bulldogs attack would be held to a single shot in the second half by the NDC defense when they forced Jan Skorupinski, a freshman from Vogt, German into a kick save preserving the Falcons clean sheet. 

Without missing a beat, Holmes and Sougarfara would combine provide the helper for McGreevy's third goal, completing his hat trick at the 71:25 mark, just over six minutes after his first. 

Holmes continued his playmaking at the 76:54 mark when he dished Elliot Kelly, a freshman from Cowborough, England his first collegiate goal, extending the Falcons lead to a commanding 11-0. 

Cooking on all burners, Holmes would add his third goal of the match unassisted at the 80:53 mark giving the Falcons a lead by a dozen goals and his tenth of the year. 

Carlo Manna, a freshman from Sydney, Australia was the provider of the Falcons last game winner when he sent a cross to Christian Earnest against John Carroll on Tuesday, picked up his first collegiate goal and the Falcons final marker at the 86:34 mark. 

Skorupinski went the distance between the pipes for the Falcons. Making three saves he would earn his first victory in his first collegiate start. 

"I thought we defended well. We kept our focus throughout and our forwards converted their chances well." Coach Michael “Mac” McBride said. "It was tremendous to get every healthy player we have into this game. Everybody played well."




NOTES FROM THE NEST … 


BAKERS'S DOZEN: The Falcons exploded for thirteen goals, the most since defeating Pitt-Bradford 13-0 on Aug. 31, 2002. 

THREE FOR THREE: Steven Kane, Ryan McGreevy, and Luke Holmes each scored a hat trick, combining for nine Falcons goals. Holmes added two assists. Holmes, Kane, and McGreevy played a part in ten of the Falcons 13 goals. 

STREAKING FALCONS: NDC improved their streak to seven consecutive clean sheets. The Falcons seven clean sheets surpasses the 2002 squad for clean sheets in a year, tying the 2004, 2007, and 2009 squads for second behind the 2005 squad. The 2005 NDC squad became the first Falcons team to earn an NAIA National Tournament appearance. During the 2005 season the Falcons kept nine clean sheets a school record.

CLEAN SWEEP: The Falcons have gone a record 7 straight games without conceding a goal, the previous best streak was three games by the 2005 and 2006 teams.