This Week: Notre Dame College women's soccer opens their 2021 campaign on the road on Saturday in Edinboro, Pa. to face the Fighting Scots at 1 p.m.
 
Records: NDC will be the first opponent for Edinboro in 2021. In taking a look back to last season, NDC finished with a record of 6-2-3, including 4-2-2 in the Mountain East Conference. Whereas Edinboro, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, had their 2020 season canceled. 
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels is entering his 19^th season at the helm of the NDC women's soccer program. Shiels enters 2021 with a career record of 181-109-27 with NDC, including three MEC tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Gary Kagiavas begins his 25^th season leading the Edinboro women's soccer program with a record of 231-184-40. Kagiavas was named the 2019 PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year.
 
Rankings: Notre Dame College is currently seated No. 12 in the United Coaches preseason poll.
 
Series History: NDC has a 1-4 record all-time against Edinboro since 2012.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last season, goals came at a premium during NDC women's soccer games. In 11 contests, NDC ranked ninth in the MEC in goals scored with 11, while also being tied for third in the conference with only six goals allowed. The opportunities presented themselves for the Falcons as they ranked third in the conference with 160 shot attempts. Despite the limited goals, NDC walked away from the 2021 spring season with an MEC tournament crown. Looking to build on an impressive spring season, several All-MEC award winners return to the Falcons including junior Madison Luckett who earned First Team honors. Sophomore Madison Marino was selected to Second Team and the All-Freshman team. Juniors Jordan Pasalaqua and Hannah Smith round out the honors for NDC by earning Honorable Mention. In addition, NDC will seek to find a new crop of goal scorers since the Falcons have zero players on their roster with a goal from last season. Notre Dame does however return their facilitators in Smith, Marino and Alyssa Soltis. Smith is the leading assist getter with two, and will be the top point scorer on the roster from just a few months ago. NDC will continue to rely on Pasalaqua in goal to hold the fort down. Last season she recorded seven clean sheets, good for tops in the MEC and a save percentage of .891, which was third in the MEC.

Noting the Fighting Scots: For the Fighting Scots, this will be their first taste of live competition in two years. Looking back to 2019, Edinboro concluded the season at 12-6-3, including 10-3-3 in the PSAC. Upon conclusion of the season, the Fighting Scots had seven players named to All-Conference teams. Five of the seven All-Conference award winners return in 2021 for Edinboro, making the Fighting Scots an experienced and tough team to beat. In 2019, they outscored their opponents 36 goals to 25, while outshooting the opposition 347 to 250. Their 2019 campaign ended at the hands of a 2-1 defeat to Slippery Rock in the PSAC tournament championship game. The Fighting Scots had been fresh off of a 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst and a 1-0 win over West Chester University of Pennsylvania, to have the opportunity to play for the conference crown.