SOUTH EUCLID, OH – The Notre Dame College women's soccer team (3-2-3, 3-1-3 MEC) hosted Wheeling University (3-5-1, 2-4-1 MEC) in what was the second meeting between the two schools this season. The first meeting was on Sept. 22 on a rainy evening in Wheeling, a match that the Cardinals won 3-2. However, this afternoon was a different story as NDC won 1-0 and looked like a team hungry for revenge right out the gate.
 
In the first half, NDC registered three shots before recording the game winning shot and goal in the 17th minute from Sammy Salatino on a cross from Drew Barr, who recently came back from injury and is already fueling the Falcons attack after playing the entire match today. Salatino's fourth goal via Barr's first assist was the difference on the scoreboard, however the match was a rather lopsided affair. NDC would go on to outshoot Wheeling eight to one in the first half, allowing zero room for Kenadee Burgoyne, a lethal weapon on the Cardinals attack to get going. Burgoyne leads the Mountain East Conference in shots, shots on goal and points per game, while being second in goals.
 
In the second half, Wheeling was able to get their offense going by recording six shots in the second stanza. NDC keeper Jordan Pasalaqua was called into action in the 66^th minute as Wheeling tallied three shots within the minute, including two rapid fire shots on goal from Mary DiFonzo on the low right side of the goal. Pasalaqua totaled four saves on the afternoon en route to her fourth clean sheet this season, which is tied for the most in the MEC. Quality opportunities in the second half for NDC came from Madison Marino in the 55^th minute with a shot that struck the top woodwork of the goal and two chances from Salatino off of set pieces that narrowly missed, in the 69^th and 71^st minutes.
 
When asked about the defensive performance in response to the furious second half by the Cardinals, Pasalaqua had this to say, "I think the defense just had to keep their intensity up, they were doing well the whole entire game. They were stepping into balls and they had no trouble getting the ball from them."
 
In total, Notre Dame took 18 shots and registered four on goal from Emily Gimmel, Madison Luckett and two from Salatino. Wheeling totaled seven shots and also had four on goal, most of which came in the second half. NDC totaled four saves, six corner kicks and 12 fouls, compared to Wheeling's three saves, one corner kick and nine fouls. April Gaukin and Wheeling's Shiann Thomas received the only yellow cards in the 51^st and 85^th minutes, respectively.

"I was really happy with how we managed the game today," said head coach Mike Shiels. "We have been really trying to stay focused and disciplined for a full 90 minutes and I thought the team did a great job today. I felt we were good for a few more goals based on our performance, but we will take the result."
 
Notre Dame College will be back on Sunday at Mueller Field when they welcome West Virginia Wesleyan College on Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.