Box Score ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Notre Dame Falcons came out on the wrong end if an 18-2 decision in their 2015 season opener against Mount Union on Wednesday afternoon.
Notre Dame (0-1) came in looking for back-to-back victories in season opening games, and to continue the momentum built at the end of last season where they closed out with four straight victories, but Mount Union (2-0) had other ideas.
Going in, the Falcons knew it would be a very tough task, against a very tough Purple Raider club, that won the Ohio Athletic Conference a season ago, and advanced to the NCAA D-III tournament.
The Purple Raiders got out to a red hot start, as they scored the first six goals of the contest, and never looked back, in a game where the Falcons played a man down. Mount Union used a 45-12 edge in shots fired during the contest.
Both of Notre Dame's goals were scored by
Darbie Barkman. Barkman ended Mount Union's 6-0 run to start the game by scoring the first goal of the season with 6:46 left in the first period.
Barkman struck again for Notre Dame with 4:28 left in the contest, on her second unassisted goal of the day.
Lauren Ragsdale came away with 17 saves on the afternoon for the Falcons, and
Ashlee Boyko led the way for Notre Dame with four ground balls.
The Falcons are in action again on Tuesday, March 10, when they play host to Walsh in their 2015 home opener. The contest is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
