LYNDHURST, Ohio -- The Notre Dame men's soccer team finished off their 2011 opening homestand with a 2-0 victory over the Cedarville Yellow Jackets at Korb Field. The win improved NDC's record to 7-0-0, while Cedarville dropped their second straight to fall to 4-3-0. (Postgame Interview with Earnest) (Box)

Christian Earnest buried two goals to down the Falcon's former American Mideast rivals. The game was an offensive struggle until Earnest scored following up on his own shot -- his fourth goal of the season -- in the 68th minute. The junior from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, added his fifth goal -- in the 82nd, despite not making a save, sophomore goalkeeper Jan Skorupinski recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season.

“We are very pleased with tonight's result,” noted Notre Dame Associate Head Coach, Carl Nolan. “Cedarville are a quality team that made us work very hard for the result.”

The opening period showed what this rivalry game between the previous AMC rivals was all about. Neither team could get things going in the final third with high defensive pressure that resulted in 20 fouls being whistled.

After back-to-back fouls by the visiting Yellow Jackets, Carlo Manna took the opening shot within three minutes. The Sydney, Australia, native sent the ball over the bar. Less than two minutes later, Ryan Thurman took his first of two shots that also sailed high.

Christian Earnest earned the Falcons best scoring opportunity at the 9:40 mark. The junior from Cyahoga Falls, Ohio, charged forward putting pressure on the Yellow Jackets net minder, Alex Scott. Scott who came out of the penalty area to clear the through ball, hit Earnest with the ball. The ball ricocheted over the 6-foot-3 sophomore and looked bound for goal. As the crowd of 418 faithful rose to their feet, the deflection sailed just high over the bar.

The opening period would close just as it opened, all level, 0-0. Through that first 45 minutes NDC held a slight 8-7 lead in shots, but neither keeper was forced to make a save. Notre Dame held a commanding 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Blue & White would come out firing in the second period pilling on 16 shots in the final period. The Falcons would open the period with back-to-back shots by Manna within the first 60 seconds.

The sophomore midfielder would see the first sail wide before Scott would make an easy collection on the second.

After missing the target on his first three shots, including a sitter from eight yards, Earnest put a Martin Lange service on target with a header. Scott made the initial reaction save but the third year man followed his initial header with a clinical finish -- for the eventual game winner, bagging his fourth goal of the season in the 68th minute.

Earnest wasted little time before securing his double when he latched onto a long pointed pass from Jacob Sheppard. The junior center back from Brampton, Ontario, picked out the streaking Earnest with a 40 yard pass. The 6-foot junior forward settled the ball and slotted home his second of the game and his fifth in the last five games.

“I thought it was a solid and composed team performance. If conditions actually allowed us to work on 'detail' work in training, we should be looking to build on this result,” stated Nolan.

The Falcons who have not been able to hold full training sessions over the last week due to inclement weather in South Euclid, didn't look as sharp in front of goal. The Blue & White missed a number of easy opportunities missing the target 15-of-24 shots. When the attack got those shots on frame they scored .250 percent of the time (2-for-8).

Ridding a seven-game winning streak, Notre Dame, travel to Rochester (Mich.), on Saturday, September 24, for a 4 p.m. kickoff at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. The Warriors come into Saturday's contest with a 5-4-0 record after falling to John Carroll on Sept. 17. RC have now dropped three of their last four, and four of six after opening the season 3-0-0. 


NOTES FROM THE NEST….

REGULAR PERFECTION: The Falcons have not lost a regular season match since Oct. 27, 2009. During that stretch the Blue & White have won 25 straight regular season contests, including a perfect 17-0-0 in 2010. During that season Notre Dame finished with a 23-1-0 record as the NAIA National Championship Finalists.

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER: Through the last five seasons during the ninth month of the year, the Falcons have won 89.5 percent (34-4-0) of their games. All-time they are 58-23-4 (70.6 percent) in September.

THIS DATE IN HISTORY: The Falcons have played two other times on Sept. 20. The Blue & White lost their first match on Sept. 20, 2003, at Houghton (N.Y.) by a, 7-0, final … that loss marked the second worse loss in program history … the last time NDC was scheduled to play on this date, Sept. 20, 2008, they won by forfeit against Illinois Tech.

KNIGHTLY PERFORMANCE: Dan Knight made his 71st appearance and his 69th career start in the Falcons, 2-0, win over Cedarville. The Abergele, Wales, native moved into ninth place in the program's record book in both categories. His 71 matches played tied David Howson (2003-2006) while his 69 starts leave him trailing Howson's 71 for eighth. Jacob Child (2007-2010) ranks first in all-time for games played (85), and games started (85).

NO SKOR: Jan Skorupinski notched his seventh career win and sixth career clean sheet in today's 2-0 win. The Vogt, Germany, native tied Josh Neimeyer (2004) for the fourth spot in the record books with his sixth shutout.

STREAKING FALCONS: Notre Dame has now scored in 70 consecutive games since being held scoreless on Sept. 12, 2008. During that stretch the Blue & White have won 88.2 percent (61-7-2) of their games. Over those 70 games Notre Dame has netted 265 goals while keeping their opponents scoreless in 30 matches.

ONE AND A HALF: Head Coach Michael “Mac” McBride moved to 148-52-15 in 215 games as the Falcons bench boss. After starting the program in 2001, the Birmingham, England, native has averaged over 14 wins per season. With Notre Dame's, 2-0, win over Cedarville he moves within two wins from 150. His winning percentage (.723) is the highest among Notre Dame's 22 athletic programs.