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WHEELING, W.Va. – The Notre Dame College women's soccer team continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory over the West Liberty Hilltoppers.
The Falcons outshot the Hilltoppers 5-1 in the first half, including a
Kathrine Beattie shot off the cross bar, but were unable to breakthrough a strong West Liberty defense.
The Falcons continued to apply consistent pressure to start the second half but had to wait until the 80th minute for the break through.
Natalie Ockunzzi was able to outpace a Hilltopper defender and was brought down in the 18 yard box for a penalty kick. Once again it was
Megan O'Connor who coolly stepped up to convert the penalty. O'Connor has three goals on the season, all from the penalty spot.
The Falcons quickly doubled the lead three minutes later when
Kathrine Beattie powered a direct free kick through the wall and into the net. Beattie, the current Mountain East Conference player of the Week, has now scored three times in the past two games.
The Falcons outshot the Hilltoppers 16-8 in the game, but were grateful for the efforts of defender
Emily Balodis who had a strong game stopping a number of Hilltopper counter attacks.
"We struggled to break them down at first," said Head Coach
Mike Shiels. "But we were able to persist and use our wide players better, which in the end proved decisive."
The Falcons, who are currently ranked sixth in the
NCAA Division II Atlantic Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), continue their away swing with a trip to Shepherd on Saturday September 28th, with kick off slated for 1 p.m.
