This week: Notre Dame College women's soccer will have their home opener on Wednesday Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. against West Liberty University. They will wrap up the week with another home game at Mueller Field on Sunday Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. against Fairmont State University.
 
Records: NDC enters this week's contests at 0-1, while having a match canceled. West Liberty will enter Wednesday at 1-1, while also having a match canceled. Fairmont State is currently 0-1 with another match scheduled for Wednesday, before traveling to South Euclid for the Falcon showdown on Sunday.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels is in his 19^th season at the helm of the NDC women's soccer program. Shiels has a career 181-110-27 record with NDC, including three MEC tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Barry Christmas is in his ninth season as the founding head coach of the West Liberty women's soccer program. Kernell Borneo is in his first season with Fairmont state after being named head coach in late June.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
 
Series History: NDC will battle WLU to preserve their unbeaten streak of 12-0-5 since 2013 against the Hilltoppers. In a Falcon vs. Falcon matchup on Sunday, NDC holds a 6-2-4 record over FSU since 2015.
 
Noting the NDC Falcons: Fresh off the spring season conference championship from a few months ago, NDC will play their first match in 11 days since their 0-1 loss to the Fighting Scots in Edinboro. A Fighting Scots 27^th minute goal was the difference between the two teams that Saturday. During the contest, Mia Alvarez led the Falcons with two shots taken and one on goal. Sammy Salatino, Louisa Follert and Kayla Saikaly all added one shot on goal as well. In total, Notre Dame tallied five shots with four coming on target. Edinboro's relentless attack added up 13 shots and nine on goal. This required Jordan Pasalaqua to be on her game as she was called on to make nine saves, registering eight, in the loss.

Notre Dame College will seek to rebound this week as they will fight to net their first goal of the season against WLU, a team that NDC has held in check over the years. The likes of Alvarez, Salatino, Follert and Saikaly will need to step up for the Falcons as the team returns zero goal scorers from a year ago. NDC will have a large opportunity this week against other low scoring teams.
 
Noting the Hilltoppers: West Liberty's first road contest of the year will take place on Wednesday against NDC. The Hilltoppers suffered a 0-1 season opening defeat to Seton Hill University. They would rebound to beat Glenville State 1-0 this past Friday. In two games this season WLU has registered 18 shots, including 13 on goal. In goal West Liberty has used two keepers in Kaitlyn Taylor and Olivia Montgomery. Tayler played the first match allowing one goal and recording four saves. Montgomery played the entirety of match two with two saves and zero goals allowed. Anne Williams is the team's lone goal scorer this year with one goal on three shots.
 
Noting the FSU Falcons: In their season opening match, Fairmont State lost 0-2 to Slippery Rock. Kiera Kuzinski is the offensive player to watch out for on FSU as she is seeking to breakthrough against NDC. She accounted for half of the Falcons shots with six and managed to put three of those shots on goal. Fairmont State was out shot by the Rock 14 (8) to 12 (7). In addition, Taylor Kennedy is the Falcons goalkeeper and she allowed both goals in the first match while also grabbing six saves. Fairmont State will have a tune-up match on Wednesday at home against Wheeling before traveling up north.