SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – With a 2-0 victory against Concord (10-8-1) the Notre Dame College women's soccer team (13-3-2) advances to the MEC Championship for the second-straight season.
 
On an overcast day where both teams had multiple chances with 22 shots combined, it was the Falcons who were able to take advantage.
 
NDC scored the first goal in the 29th minute on a set piece from Alexis Manoa that set up junior forward Brooke LeForce for her fourth goal of the season.
 
"We've had several opportunities like that before so when I lined up I ran across and no one was marking me," LeForce said. "I judged it well and went for it.
 
"It was great, amazing. It was my first header."
 
Manoa, 2017 MEC Offensive Player of the Year, had several other chances on set pieces that put the Mountain Lions dangerously close to falling further behind, but it was the one in minute 29 that earned an assist on the game-winner.
 
"She's proven since the first day she's walked in here that if we can get those opportunities then she's going to do something with it, and she did that again today," said head coach Mike Shiels.
 
The score in the first half gave NDC the confidence to push again in the last 45 minutes when the team attempted 12 shots.
 
"Scoring first is huge," LeForce said. "Our momentum when we score first just keeps going. It transitions over to the rest of the game as well. In the second half we had so many chances."
 
Shiels said he knew going into the game that if his team was able to control the ball and keep possession against Concord that opportunities would arise. That's exactly what happened early in the second half when Janelle Bernal got free and passed a perfect ball to Jackie Corrigan. Unfortunately, a CU defender came between the two and pushed the ball in for an own goal resulting in the 2-0 final.
 
Bernal, an All-MEC First Team and Freshman Team selection, has used her speed all season long to disrupt defenses and Shiels said she unsettles teams with that ability.
 
Another freshman making an impact this season is goalkeeper Kyra McDowell who earned her 12th victory and fourth-straight shutout with five saves. McDowell faced a total of seven shots and two corner kicks.
 
"I was impressed with her decision making coming out to cut things off before they started," Sheils said. "The shots they took were kind of all long distance and things that we expect her to handle, but some of the decisions she made to come out and cut off through balls were very good."
 
Notre Dame heads into its fourth MEC Championship game this Sunday at West Virginia Wesleyan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.