Box Score
ROCHESTER, N.Y., -- A slow start cost the Notre Dame Falcons in their 2014 season opener on Saturday afternoon, as they fell to Roberts Wesleyan, 12-11.

For the Falcons (0-1) the loss marked the third time in the last four years that they've dropped their season opener, while for the Redhawks(2-2) the victory was their first since their season opener, snapping a two-game slide in the process.

Roberts Wesleyan used a 4-1 run to open the contest and didn't trail at any point throughout the contest.  Notre Dame used a terrific effort at the end to make things interesting, scoring the final three goals of the game, in the final five minutes, but their comeback effort came up short.

Kelsey Coval scored two of Roberts Wesleyan's first five goals of the contest, the first game at the 20:20-mark to snap a scoreless tie, before Kristen Hull answered for NDC three minutes later to even the score.  The Redhawks responded with four goals over the next four and a half minutes to steal the momentum.

The aforementioned 4-0 run for the Redhawks was their first of two big runs on the afternoon. Shannan Edwards scored a goal with 5:59 left in the first half to bring the Falcons within one (5-4), before the Redhawks went on a 5-1 run that spilled into the second half.

Down 10-5 with just 19 minutes remaining, Notre Dame turned it on and made a terrific comeback effort.  Madalyn Dewling scored at the 17:14-mark on an assist from Allison Merten, which started 6-2 run to end the game.

Edwards scored with 2:52 to play for the Falcons to bring them within two (12-10) and she scored again, less than a minute later to bring the deficit down to one (12-11), but the Redhawks held on in the final two minutes of the game to score the victory.

Merten, Edwards and Hull found the back of the net three times each, while Dewling led the way for the Falcons with three assists.  Hull added a pair of assists as well in the loss.

The NDC lost came despite their ability to fire off 12more shots (34-22), while the Redhawks capitalized on 13 NDC turnovers on the afternoon.
The Falcons are in action again on Thursday, Feb. 27, when they take on Seton Hill in another road tilt.  The contest is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.