SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – In Notre Dame College's final home game of the season, the Falcons closed in within one point of Wheeling Jesuit University late in the second half, but fell to the Cardinals, 22-16.

Wheeling Jesuit, who is now tied for second place in the conference, did not deter the Falcons' (7-9, 3-5 MEC) offense early in the game. After the Cardinals (10-5, 6-2 MEC) took and missed the first shot of the contest, Notre Dame recovered after a turnover and sophomore Abigail Plewes scored on a free position shot.

Senior Taylor Henderson won a draw control after Wheeling Jesuit's first goal. The Falcons second goal came with 23:43 remaining in the first half as sophomore Bridie Schmalz scored, with an assist by Taylor Henderson.

WJU scored three straight goals to put themselves up, 4-2, but the Falcons fought back. Following a caused turnover, Notre Dame scored with 19:08 to go when freshman Danyelle Hardy put the ball in the net. Three and a half minutes later, freshman Leslie Diaz scored a free position goal and a minute later, NDC was back on top as freshman Katie Wendell scored on an assist by Diaz, making the score 5-4.

The Cardinals would score two goals, but the Falcons responded to both. With 3:40 left on the clock before halftime, NDC led 7-6 as Henderson connected with Diaz on a goal to give Notre Dame the lead, again. However, Wheeling Jesuit flipped a switch and in the final three minutes, the Cardinals scored the final six goals of the first half. At halftime, NDC trailed 12-7.

To start the second half, Notre Dame scored five of the first seven goals. Over the first eight minutes of the second stanza, Henderson, Hardy, Plewes, Wendell and Schmalz all put the ball in the net. Notre Dame trailed by two goals, 14-12.

After matching goal-for-goal, the Falcons came as close to tying the game as they had in the entire second half. Wendell caused a turnover and junior Blaike Windsor scored with an assist by Hardy. That goal made the score, 16-15. Two minutes later, freshman Victoria Eiland had a chance to tie the game with a free position shot, but it was saved by goalkeeper Emma Stair.

Wheeling scored the next two goals to expand their lead to three and NDC could not get any closer than a two point deficit.

For Notre Dame, Hardy led the team with four goals and she also had an assist. Henderson recorded two goals and two assists as well as winning nine draw controls. Diaz scored three goals and on the defensive side, Plewes caused four turnovers to go along with her two goals scored. The Falcons had a successful home portion of the schedule as their three home wins this season are the most since 2014.

Mackenzie Kaderabek scored 10 times and won eight draw controls. She had five goals in each half and in the second half, she scored three consecutive goals for the Cardinals. Both Megan Mangia and Ally Coggins recorded three goals and two assists.

The Falcons will play the University of Charleston on April 25. The first draw is scheduled for 3 p.m.