Box Score
WHEELING, W.Va -- When Notre Dame and Wheeling Jesuit met on Sept. 23 earlier this season, the Falcons used a pair of goals from Leonardo Paiva to escape with a 3-2 win at home. The second match between the Falcons and Cardinals came on Sunday afternoon, and Paiva again scored twice to lead NDC to 3-0 road win over WJU. 

Defense was the name of the game in the first half, as both sides struggled to find much offensive flow or rhythm. The Falcons' defensive front applied consistent pressure to the Cardinals attack, clearing offensive chances for WJU. 

NDC's defense stood tall in front of goalkeepr Daniel Nagy, holding the Cardinals to just two shot attempts in the first half. NDC was unable to score on their first four shot attempts of the game, but Paiva finally broke through right before halftime. 

In the 43rd minute, Paiva scored an unassisted goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead at the break, backing up a strong first half from the Falcons defense.

Going into the second half with a 1-0 lead, NDC's offense looked to build upon that lead. Just over 10 minutes into the second half, the Falcons did just that.

Paiva netted his second goal of the game at the 57:22 mark, with the assist from Ryan Ware. The goal marked Paiva's 15th of the season, the most of any individual in the Mountain East Conference.

With a 2-0 lead on the road, the Falcons refused to take their foot off the pedal as they continued to maintain possession. Just four minutes after Ware dished the assist to Paiva, Ware scored a goal of his own at the 61:59 mark to extend NDC's lead to 3-0.

From there, the Falcons continued to manage the tempo of the game, ending the day with a 3-0 road win over Wheeling Jesuit.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 11-5, including a 7-4 mark in MEC play.

NDC will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at home against Concord University. The match is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Mueller Field.