BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – For the third consecutive game, the Notre Dame College offense has scored at least four goals and for the third consecutive game, the defense has shutout an opponent. On Wednesday afternoon, the Falcons defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 5-0.

Notre Dame continues to put up incredible numbers. The Falcons came into the game leading NCAA Division II in scoring offense and are now averaging 3.92 goals per contest. They have 51 on the season and the last time the program scored over 50 goals was 2012, when they totaled 55.

The first goal of the day happened nearly ten minutes into the contest. On the defensive side, senior Alexandru Rumleanschi stole the ball and sent it up the pitch. Sophomore Marcus Vinicius Pereira worked to the right side of the box and passed to junior Ned Dry. Dry immediately took a shot from the middle of the box that was redirected off a WVWC defender's leg and popped into the air over goalkeeper Logan Nelson's arms.

Pereira now has assisted on a goal in three straight games.

Fifteen minutes later, freshman Taylor Dyson sent a pass into the box that stayed in the air and freshman Ailton Fagner Silva headed it, but Nelson punched the ball into air. Sophomore Filip Sparavec found the ball just outside the six-yard box and scored to put NDC ahead 2-0.

Silva was able to get his goal later. In the 32nd minute, from just beyond midfield, Dyson sent another strong pass toward the W.Va. Wesleyan goal. Silva received the pass and kept his shot on the ground and under the Bobcats' defense.

The Falcons finished off the half with another score to go ahead 4-0 before the break. Junior Malvin Gblah found Sparavec near midfield. Sparavec took the ball down the field, staying a step ahead of the defender next to him. He drew the goalkeeper in, toward the right side, and then passed to sophomore Lukas Hackaa, who scored.

During their current three-game winning streak, NDC has averaged 3.3 goals in the first half.

After 45 minutes, the Falcons had taken eight shots with six on goal. WVWC was held to just one shot and none on target.

Notre Dame scored one goal in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Silva went down after a hard foul in the box. Following the foul call and before the Falcons could take the penalty kick, Nelson was given a red card. Sahil Dhunnookchand entered and stayed in goal the rest of the game. Senior Kane Bartholomew took the PK and sent it in through, toward the lower right corner, for his first career goal.

The Falcons have the weekend off and host Concord University, on Nov. 3, with a 12 p.m. start time.