CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The top two offenses in NCAA Division II went head-to-head in the Mountain East Conference Tournament Semifinals. Entering the day, Notre Dame College was averaging 3.6 goals per game, while No. 5 University of Charleston was putting up 3.71 per contest. Wednesday's game went against the trends as the defenses left their mark. Charleston snuck by with a goal in the 80th minute to win 1-0.

Notre Dame, the three seed in the MEC tournament, had taken one more shot than the two seed Charleston, 25 minutes into the contest. The NDC defense played aggressive and did not let the Golden Eagles settle in past midfield.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first half, a set piece gave Charleston an opportunity. The free kick entered the box, where it bounced around, but UC could not find an angle to get the ball on target.

Notre Dame was threatening with less than 10 seconds remaining before the break. The Falcons caught some players off guard as they made their way down the field quickly, but one pass went a bit too long and Charleston's goalkeeper Nicolai Gundersen jumped on it.

The teams were even at three shots, each, in the first 45 minutes.

Charleston's offense was on a mission early in the second half. In the opening seconds, a cross led to a header that redirected the ball on target, but NDC goalkeeper Pedro Alves ran up to make the save. Alves had three important saves in the second half.

With 33 minutes to go in the contest, sophomore Lukas Hackaa was nearing the Charleston goal. He tried to work around a defender at the top of the box, but the ball was taken away with an aggressive play by the defense.

UC's Adrian Camacho loaded up and sent a shot that was on its way to sneak under the crossbar, with 21 minutes remaining. However, Alves leaped into the air and punched the ball away for an important stop.

About ten minutes later, in the 80th minute, Charleston put a goal on the board. A quick developing play for UC resulted in the ball being sent in from the left side by Luis Maestre, to the center of the box. Gabriel Rodriguez took possession behind the NDC defense and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He sent it low and to the right to find the net.

Alves finished the game with five saves for Notre Dame.

"Although our season ended tonight, we are very proud of the players' performance tonight," said head coach Carl Nolan. "We have had a lot of different challenges this season, which hurt at times, but will ultimately make us better for next season."

The Falcons finish a tremendous season, in which they set new records. For the first time in the program's Division II era, they scored 10 goals in a game and later in the season set another record by taking 40 shots in a contest. Notre Dame scored at least five goals in five games this fall. The defense put together a shutout streak of four games late in the season, as well.

The offense's 54 total goals, 44 assists and 150 points are new records in their Division II era.