Box Score     By all measures, the 2013 campaign will be remembered as a success for the Notre Dame College Falcons, as they finished with a 15-4 record and even earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. However, in a strange twist of fate, the Falcons opened their 2014 season against the same team that ended their 2013 season in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament – the Mercyhurst University Lakers.

     Both teams came into the season opener with high expectations for themselves, as the Falcons came into the season ranked 16^th in the preseason coaches poll while the Lakers ranked 6^th in the same poll. However, revenge would not be served by the Falcons, as the Lakers stormed back from an early 1-0 deficit to win the game by a score of 4-1.

    The Falcons came out of the gate firing, and used that energy to give themselves an early lead over the Lakers. Senior Adam Mitchell scored the first goal of the game – and of the season – for the Falcons at the 21:42 mark, with the assist coming from junior Julian Giannotti.

    However, the lead was short-lived for the Falcons, as the Lakers responded with a goal from Danny Deakin at the 23:50 mark, with the assist coming from Sam Dorf. 
    
    With the score even at one goal a piece, both sides continued to battle for the upper hand throughout the remainder of the first half. However, neither team could establish dominance over the other, leaving the score tied at one at halftime.

    The stalemate continued into the second half, but not for long as Deakin again scored for the Lakers, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead at the 58:06 mark.

    Physical play from both sides continued in the ensuing minutes, with the Falcons looking to tie the game while the Lakers were in search of an insurance goal. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Lakers extended their lead to 3-1 behind a goal from Richard Vanhorne at the 73:42 mark, assist from Deakin.
           
    A few minutes later, Deakin iced the game for Mercyhurst as he netted his third goal of the game to give the Lakers a 4-1 lead with less than 12 minutes remaining in the game. NDC continued to push for late game opportunities, but to no avail as the Lakers defeated the Falcons by a final score of 4-1.
           
    The Falcons play next on Sunday, Sept. 7 at home against Gannon University.