This week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team will face Fairmont State University in the first round of the MEC Tournament on Tuesday Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in Fairmont, WV.
 
MEC Tournament: Also playing in the First Round on Tuesday will be West Virginia State vs. Charleston in the #2 vs. #3 matchup from the South Division, as their kickoff is set for 5 p.m. The winner of the Falcon bowl between NDC and FSU will face the South Division champion, Concord University on Friday at 3 p.m. for the Semifinals, while the winner of the WVSU and UC matchup will take on Frostburg State University who claimed the North Division crown in the other Semifinal match at 5 p.m. on Friday. The winners of the two Semifinal matchups will square up in the MEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday Nov. 14, with an automatic ticket into the NCAA Tournament on the line.
 
Records: Notre Dame enters the postseason at 6-8-3, 6-7-3 MEC and are the #3 seed in the MEC North Division. Fairmont State begins their postseason at 7-7-3, 7-6-3 MEC and are the #2 seed 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 186-116-29 record with NDC, including three MEC tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Kernell Borneo is in his first season as the head coach of Fairmont State with a career record of 7-7-3.
 
Rankings: Neither team is ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame College is 7-3-4 all-time against Fairmont State dating back to 2015. The Falcons all-time record includes the two matchups these squads had earlier this season when NDC won round one 3-1 on Sept. 19 on the backs of goal scorers Follert (2) and Sammy Salatino (1). However FSU grabbed their revenge in the second contest on Oct. 27, 3-1 as Madison Marino's first career goal scored was the lone offensive output for the Falcons on that evening.
 
Noting the NDC Falcons: Notre Dame is fresh off a 1-1 week in which they snuck into the third and final MEC North playoff seat on the final day of the regular season. On Wednesday, NDC lost to Concord 4-0 in a game the Mountain Lions dominated by outshooting NDC 18 (8) to 4 (3). The Falcons rebounded and trounced Alderson Broaddus on Sunday by a score of 4-0. NDC netted four first half goals from Emily Gimmel (2), Marino and Kalie Blaising to ensure three points and a postseason berth. Gimmel and Blaising's first career goals scored came at the perfect time for NDC who was without leading scorer Louisa Follert on an afternoon that they needed a win or draw against AB to advance.
 
As aforementioned, Follert is the team's leader in goals scored with nine on the season. The freshman is the driving force behind the NDC Falcons offensive success this season as she ranks 6^th in the MEC in goals scored, 7^th in shots per game (3.18), 7^th in total points (20) and 3^rd in points per game (1.82). In addition, former All-MEC goalkeeper Jordan Pasalaqua has tallied seven clean sheets on the season which ranks 3^rd in the Mountain East. Moreover, Pasalaqua has grabbed 68 saves on the season which is good for the 4^th most in the conference.
 
In total, NDC has generated 174 total shots and registered 89 on target. The Falcons have scored 22 goals and assisted on 12 occasions, as well as 77 saves and 49 corner kicks.
 
Noting the FSU Falcons: Fairmont State is entering the postseason after going 0-1-1 last week. On Wednesday, FSU fell to Charleston 1-0 after UC scored in the 106^th minute to steal three points from the Fighting Falcons. On Saturday, FSU faced Frostburg State as the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes. The Fighting Falcons scored in the 14^th minute but Frostburg State's relentless 24 shots and 12 on goal netted the equalizer and ended the scoring in the 44^th minute.
 
Kiera Kuzinski is a player to keep an eye out on Fairmont State. The sophomore is the team-leader in goals scored with ten as Kuzinski ranks tied for 4^th in the MEC in goals scored, 2^nd in the MEC in total shots (78), 2^nd in shots per game (4.88), 2^nd in shots on goal (38) and 5^th in points (22).
 
In total, FSU has tallied 232 total shots and put 132 shots on target. The Fighting Falcons have scored 30 goals and assisted on 11 occasions, to go along with 85 saves and 57 corner kicks.