CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After trailing the University of Charleston by two goals at halftime, Notre Dame College had some work to do in the final 30 minutes. The Falcons tied the contest at 13 near the end of regulation and neither team could score again until senior Bridie Schmalz ended the game with a goal in the third overtime period.

Notre Dame had a few attempts early in the game, but two of their shots hit the post. Charleston's McKenna Kincaid scored the first goal of the game with 26 minutes remaining in the first half.
UC scored again on a free position shot to take a 2-0 lead before sophomore Alicyn Loberg won the draw control and junior Megan Dano scored for NDC at the 20:33-mark.

After falling behind 3-1, Dano scored a second time and then senior Emily Thomson found the net after receiving a pass from freshman Charlotte Vari, tying the contest at three.

Notre Dame did not take the lead until there was just over eight minutes on the first half clock. A turnover that was caused by Dano gave NDC possession and junior Katie Wendell tied the game. Wendell won the next draw and Vari put the Falcons in front 5-4.

A couple shots by the Falcons did not get past UC's goalkeeper, Georgia Ryan, and Charleston's offense took the ball the other way and scored three quick goals to grab a 7-5 lead. Kayleigh Burns had back-to-back goals for the Golden Eagles. Charleston would go into the halftime break with an 8-6 advantage.

The second half featured four ties and two lead changes. Less than five minutes into the second half, NDC had scored twice. Dano scored with an assist by Wendell and then Vari tied the game at eight with a goal, following a pass that came from Dano. In between those two goals, junior Mackenzie Levine made a save on a UC shot on goal. Levine made eight saves in the first half and added seven more in the second stanza.

Charleston then took five shots before they finally scored to go ahead, 9-8. The UC defense caused a turnover and the offense stayed aggressive, taking a 10-8 lead.

With 12:08 remaining in regulation, Schmalz scored the second of her career-high three goals in the contest to tie the game at 11. Freshman Megan Jackson put the ball in the net a minute later and the Falcons had their first lead of the second half.

It was then Charleston's turn to go on a run and they scored two consecutive goals to grab a 13-12 advantage. Great work from both defenses and the goalkeepers made it difficult to score the rest of the way.

With just 2:23 on the clock, Dano found Vari and NDC tied the contest at 13. In the final two minutes, both Levine for NDC and Ryan for UC made stops on free position shots to keep the contest tied.

The Falcons took two shots in the second overtime period that were saved. They broke through in triple overtime when Dano passed to Schmalz, leading to the game-winner, with 26 seconds remaining.

The game was NDC's first overtime contest since April 12, 2014 and the program's first overtime win since April 19, 2011, which was also won in triple OT.

"It was an intense game and we had to overcome a lot of adversity to win, but the team came together and scrapped to pull it out," said head coach Ben Morhac. "We continue to have multiple people step up to contribute and I couldn't be more proud of the team."

Dano finished with a season-high four goals to go along with three assists. Vari added three goals and one assist and Wendell had two goals, an assist and four draw controls. Loberg finished with six draw controls. Sophomore Nia Griffith gave NDC three caused turnovers. Levine finished with 15 saves, which is the second highest number she's saved in a game this season.

With the win, Notre Dame stays one game ahead of Frostburg State University in the Mountain East Conference standings.

The Falcons celebrate Senior Day on April 25, when they play Alderson Broaddus University. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.