Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- After suffering the first loss of the season this past Sunday, the Notre Dame College Falcons played host to the visiting Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon at Mueller Field. The Falcons used a late, 82nd minute goal from Leonardo Paiva to pick up a 3-2 win over the Mountain East Conference rival Cardinals.

The Falcons were aggresive from the very start, jumping on the scoreboard early. Arthur Favero found an opening on the left side of the box and sniped a shot to the back of the net, scoring to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead over the Cardinals.

The 1-0 lead was short-lived, however, as the Cardinals quickly responded with a 20th minute goal, tying the score at 1-1. Both sides continued to push back and forth throughout the remainder of the first half, with each side looking to take the lead.

With 4:28 remaining before halftime, NDC's Thomaz Freitas was issued a red card, leaving the Falcons playing a man-down for the remainder of the game.

Despite playing a man-down, the Falcons offense broke through in the 43rd minute. Leonardo Paiva intercepted a Cardinals pass in their own end, sprinted towards the net and slotted a shot into the bottom right corner, giving NDC a 2-1 lead just before halftime.

At halftime, the Falcons held a narrow 2-1 lead over the Cardinals.

In the second half, physical play continued from both sides but the score remained the same. The Falcons defense stood tall in front of goalkeeper Spencer Semple, who kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard and the Falcons in front, 2-1.

However, the Cardinals' persisent offense continued to search for an opening in the Falcons' defense, which was still playing one man-down. In the 78th minute, WJU scored its second goal of the game to tie the score at 2-2.

With the clock ticking towards the end of regulation and overtime seeming inevitable, the Falcons' offense put together one last offensive rally.

The Falcons attempted a corner kick, and the ensuing header attempt was no good. However, Paiva settled the deflection off the header and fired a goal into the back right corner of the net, giving the Falcons a 3-2 lead in the 82nd minute. The goal was Paiva's team-leading ninth of the season.

From there, the Falcons cleared the ball off their end of the field, thwarting scoring chances from the Cardinals, as NDC held on for the 3-2 win over WJU.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 6-1 on the season, including 3-1 in Mountain East Conference play.

NDC will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27 on the road as they take on the nationally top-ranked Charleston Golden Eagles. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.