This week: Notre Dame College women's soccer will begin their week on Wednesday Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. when they travel to Institute, WV to face West Virginia State. The Falcons will return home to Mueller Field on Sunday Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. when NDC hosts Frostburg State for the two teams second meeting this year. During their first meeting on Sept. 26, NDC and FSU finished in a scoreless draw after 110 minutes in Maryland.
 
Records: Notre Dame enters this week with a record of 3-5-3 (3-4-3 MEC) and in third place with 12 points in the MEC North Division. West Virginia State enters this week at 8-3-1 (7-2-1 MEC) and in second place with 22 points in the MEC South Division. Frostburg State will begin this week at 9-2-1 (8-1-1 MEC) and in first place with 25 points in the MEC North Division.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels is in his 19^th season at the helm of the NDC women's soccer program. Shiels has a career 184-114-29 record with NDC, including three MEC tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Lisa Mann is in her third season with West Virginia State, with a career record of 20-8-2. Brian Parker is in his 20^th season at the helm of the Frostburg State program with a career record of 237-112-42.
 
Series History: Notre Dame will square off against West Virginia State on Wednesday for the first time in program history. On the other hand, NDC has an all-time record of 1-2-2 against Frostburg State dating back to 2019.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
 
Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame enters this week in a bit of a funk, being shutout and dropping each of their last three matches. Last week, NDC traveled to Davis & Elkins on Wednesday where they fell 1-0. It was a 37^th minute goal from Madison Rose which became the deciding factor that afternoon. The Falcons totaled seven shots and four on target, compared to D&E's 12 shots and seven on target. In their second match this week, NDC fell to Charleston 2-0. An early 4^th minute goal became the game-winner for UC when Katy O'Reilly found the back of the net. Notre Dame would be able to generate seven shots and five on target, compared to 11 shots and six on goal for Charleston.
 
NDC is led by Louisa Follert and Sammy Salatino who rank one and two on the Falcons in goals, shots, shots on goal and points. Follert's five goals scored are tied for the 6^th most scored in the Mountain East Conference this season. In addition, the freshman's nine points are tied for 9^th most in the MEC and her 1.50 points per game average is tied for the 3^rd best mark. Salatino also posts nine points and is tied with Follert for 9^th in the MEC. Moreover, Salatino ranks tied for 10^th in goals scored (4) and tied for 8^th in total shots (30).
Thus far, NDC has totaled ten goals on the year, which have stemmed from 105 shots and 52 on goal. The Falcons have seven assists, 56 saves, 32 corner kicks and four yellow cards. On the other hand, NDC has surrendered ten goals on 113 shots and 67 on goal. They have also allowed nine assists, 42 saves, 30 corner kicks and 13 yellow cards.
 
Noting the Yellow Jackets: Last week West Virginia State split their two matches to go 1-1. On Wednesday, WVSU lost to West Liberty 2-1. After scoring first in the 16^th minute, WVSU would see West Liberty respond with 27^th and 55^th minute goals to pull out the victory. The Yellow Jackets outshot the Hilltoppers 13 (7) to 9 (6). On Sunday, WVSU avenged their loss with a 3-1 win over Alderson Broaddus. A 30^th minute WVSU goal opened the scoring, but an AB 52^nd minute goal equalized the score at 1-1. Naomi Waithira netted the Yellow Jackets game-winner in the 66^th minute. West Virginia State dominated Alderson Broaddus on this occasion by posting 32 shots and 13 on goal, compared to AB's six shots and three on goal.
 
West Virginia State is led by, Fran Soares-Cupertino who in the Mountain East Conference, ranks 2^nd in shots (52), 4^th in shots on goal (23), 2^nd in goals scored (9), and 3^rd in total points (18).
 
In total, West Virginia State has netted 21 goals on 172 shots with 85 coming on target, to go along with 14 assists, 40 saves, 38 corner kicks, 11 yellow cards and one red card. They have allowed 13 goals on 118 shots with 56 on target to go along with eight assists, 63 saves, 37 corner kicks and six yellow cards.
 
Noting the Bobcats: Frostburg State enters this week blazing hot and on a nine-match unbeaten streak. Their last loss this season came on Sept. 12 against Concord when they fell, 2-0. Moreover, NDC was the most recent opponent in which FSU did not defeat, when the two teams tied on Sept. 26, 0-0. Last week, the Bobcats had just one match, which came at home on Saturday during the school's homecoming weekend. The Bobcats handled Wheeling University by a final score of 4-0. The eventual game-winning goal was scored by Lela Clark in the 17^th minute of the match. In total, Frostburg dominated the game by registering 31 total shots and 14 on goal. Wheeling was only able to muster five shots and three on goal.
 
Frostburg State's offense is powered by Toni Fiocco-Mizer who is tied for the team lead in goals scored with five, and also ranks tied for 6^th in the MEC with that mark. Fiocco-Mizer also ranks 7^th in total shots taken (36) and 1^st in shots on goal (27). Her 12 points scored this season is the 6^th best mark in the MEC.
 
In total, Frostburg State has scored 27 times on 205 shots with 117 on target. They also registered 19 assists, 39 saves, 83 corner kicks and zero yellow cards. Their opponents have totaled just seven goals scored on 108 total shots, with 47 on target. Opponents also have one assist, 90 saves, 36 corner kicks and five yellow cards.