SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame College women's soccer team (11-3-2) were the first team to defeat No. 10 West Virginia Wesleyan (14-1-1) this season. On Sunday, the Falcons were also just the second conference team to score against the Bobcats in a 2-0 victory.
 
WVWC was on a seven-game shutout streak since defeating Wheeling Jesuit 5-1 on September 23. This streak included a 1-0 win against NDC, but the Falcons had a streak of their own going into the game. Notre Dame completed that streak and went 8-0 at home this regular season.
 
The teams traded shots back and forth in the beginning of the competition until the 30-minute mark arrived and freshman forward, Janelle Bernal scored the game's first goal. Bernal took the ball from the left side of the penalty box and dribble her way through defenders to put on into the net in the bottom right corner.
 
The unassisted goal ended up being the game-winner and the fifth goal in Bernal's debut season.
 
Being the first team to score on the Bobcats in over 630 minutes showed how well the Falcon offense can perform said senior Jackie Corrigan.
 
"We have really good chemistry," Corrigan said. "Janelle is super fast and Lex is always setting the pace for us. We work really well together, especially towards the end of this season."
 
Corrigan later scored the second goal of the game after a scrum off a corner kick. Jillian Doss was the first to record a shot, which was saved and rebounded by Corrigan for her eighth goal of the season. With the score 2-0, the reality of the upset started to sink in.
 
"I think it gave us a good feeling and a bit of security," Corrigan said. "Even if they scored, we'd still be ahead. It's always nice to be able to get up by two and get that advantage."
 
This was the second shutout win for the Falcons this week. Both Corrigan and head coach Mike Shiels spoke after the game on how they felt to defeat a top 10 team.
 
"It's honestly the best feeling," Corrigan said. "We had a rough patch and were able to come back and prove ourselves. We showed what we were able to do and how we can play soccer, especially on Senior Day."
 
"It was important for us," Shiels said. "We've started to play well after some ups and downs. We felt coming into the game that we were playing well and it was good to see that against a very good Wesleyan team."
 
Shiels also discussed his feelings on Senior Day and being able to end the regular season at home while honoring 11 of his players.
 
"We talked about sending them out the right way," Shiels said. "They're such a big part of the team and it's a big group so it was important. It was nice to have that opportunity; it was nice for us to get a big win and have an important moment for our seniors at home."
 
Goalkeeper Kyra McDowell earned her third career shutout with five saves on the day. She now has 10 wins this season, a feat only done three other times in NDC Division II history.
 
The Falcons have just one game remaining in the regular season. Then they will host the first round of the MEC playoffs before the final Regional rankings come out. This win will surely be an important one for those final rankings.
 
"We wanted this win," Corrigan said. "It's good to beat a nationally and regionally ranked opponent so we definitely have a lot of confidence now."
 
"What we know now is that we can play with anyone," Shiels said.
 
Notre Dame will end its regular season at West Liberty on Saturday, October 28. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.