This week: Notre Dame hosts Lake Erie College in its final non-conference game of the season on Saturday, September 14, at 12 p.m.
Records: Notre Dame began its season with a 1-1 opening week. Lake Erie is 2-0 after a win at Glenville State on Tuesday.
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels is in his 17th season as the head coach for the Falcons. During his time at NDC, Shiels has gone 166-102-20 with a 71-10-8 MEC record. Reni Lawrence is in her third season at the helm of the Lake Erie Storm. With a 2-0 record, Lawrence is off to her best start at LEC. Overall she holds a record of 12-22-2.
Rankings: None of the teams received votes in the preseason United State Soccer Coaches Poll released September 8.
Series History: These teams have not played since 2012 when Lake Erie won both matches by a score of 1-0. These are the only games the Falcons and Storm have played since NDC left the NAIA in 2011. Notre Dame will look to improve its 0-2 record against Lake Erie after two close loses in 2012. Both matches were very close as one was decided in double overtime.
Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame found a way to bounce back from the tough loss against Gannon and received their first win of the season, 3-2 over Edinboro. Three newcomers,
Kazarie Kephart,
Kady Cushing and
Michelle Escobar, scored the team's first goals of the season and their first as Falcons as Notre Dame earned the win. The trio led and made their names heard in the first road game of the season, among a team that brought back four top scorers of the 2018 season.
Noting the Storm: Not only is Lake Erie off to its best start since 2016, but the Storm have outscored their opponents 5-0. Haley Scherer is leading her team with three goals in her first two starts at LEC. Scherer is stepping out in her sophomore season after only playing in four contests as a freshman. She now has six career shots, with four on goal and three that scored. Megan Biddell is starting her career off strong as the team's goalkeeper. The freshman from Mentor, Ohio has played all 180 minutes in the net, recorded nine saves in her two shutouts. The Falcons will look to be the first to score against Biddell on Saturday.
