This Week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team will host Fairmont State University on Mueller Field Oct. 19 at noon. The Falcons will then travel to Glenville State University on Sunday Oct. 23 for another noon kick-off.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 5-6-3 and 4-5-3 inside the Mountain East Conference, placing them in the eighth and final MEC Tournament spot for the moment. FSU rides a six-match winning streak into the week, holding a record of 8-2-3 (8-2-2 MEC), and in third place in the MEC. Lastly, GSU is 0-14 (0-12 MEC).
 
Updated MEC Tournament Details: The Mountain East Conference has approved an expanded field for the 2022 season as the top four teams from each division will now be invited into the postseason. Previously, only the top three teams from each division received a bid into the tournament. The quarterfinal format will begin with the No. 1 team in each division hosting the No. 4 team from their respective division, while No. 2 hosts No. 3 (within each respective division).
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels headlines the Notre Dame women's soccer program for his 20^th season at the helm. Shiels carries a 192-124-33 career record, to go along with three MEC Tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Kernell Borneo is the head coach of Fairmont State in his second season, holding a career record of 16-10-6. The head coach of Glenville State is J.R. Dodson in his second season, with a career record of 4-28.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked according to the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
 
Series History: The NDC Falcons are 8-4-4 all-time against the FSU Falcons, dating back to their first meeting in 2015 and including Notre Dame's 1-0 win at Fairmont State on Sept. 11. Notre Dame is 3-0 all-time when facing Glenville State since their first meeting in 2018. The Falcons beat the Pioneers 4-0 last season on Mueller Field.
 
Noting the NDC Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame College went 1-2 against steep competition. On Wednesday, NDC fell 1-0 to No. 20 West Virginia State in a great defensive battle. On Friday, NDC wrapped up their suspended match with West Liberty, as the Falcons won 1-0 in a game started 20 days prior. Junior Madison Marino netted the games only goal in the fifth minute. Rounding out the week, NDC traveled to Frostburg State and lost 2-0.
 
Marino leads a balanced Notre Dame offense with five goals scored and 10 points on the season. Freshman Maridza Desir (4), junior Kalie Blaising (2) and freshman Emma Buda (2) have also scored multiple goals for NDC on the season. Buda paces the team in shots (26) and shots on goal (18), as Desir leads the team with a .750 shot accuracy mark.
 
Eight different Falcons have recorded one assist on the season as the team is capable of scoring from a multitude of different avenues.
 
In goal, senior Jordan Pasalaqua has been one of the best keepers in the conference this season. She currently leads the MEC in shutouts (6), while ranking second in save percentage (.831), fourth in goals against average (.923), and sixth in saves per game (4.46).
 
As a team, Notre Dame College has scored 16 goals on 10.9 shots per game, to go with eight assists, 62 corner kicks and 67 team saves.
 
Noting the FSU Falcons: Last week, Fairmont State picked up a pair of 4-0 victories on their home turf. On Wednesday, FSU downed Wheeling, as Kiera Kuzinski notched a hat-trick. On Friday, Fairmont State used four different goal scorers to get the job done against Alderson Broaddus.
 
Kuzinski is the heart and soul to the FSU offense with 14 goals scored, 86 shots and 36 shots on goal. She currently leads the MEC in shots per game (6.62) and shots on goal per game (2.77), while ranking second in goals scored. Moreover, Kuzinski leads the nation in shots per game, while ranking fifth in shots on goal per game and tied for sixth in goals scored.
 
Lesbia Alejandra Puerto Sorto is another player to keep an eye on as she is second on the team in goals (6), while being tied for the team lead and sixth in the MEC with four assists.
 
Kennedy Taylor has flashed a solid season in goal, as she leads the MEC in goals allowed (8) and save percentage (.852), while being tied for third in shutouts (4) and 10^th in saves per game (3.54).
 
As a unit, Fairmont State has scored 27 goals on 18.8 shots per game, to go with 13 assists, 59 corner kicks and 46 team saves. FSU ranks ninth in NCAA Division II in shots per game.
 
Noting the Pioneers: Last week, Glenville State dropped both of their contests at home, beginning with a 2-0 defeat to WV Wesleyan. Sunday, featured a 7-4 loss to Wheeling, with 51 shots being recorded between both teams. Merel Smets scored a hat-trick despite the loss.
 
Smets is the clear offensive leader for Glenville State with four goals scored, eight points, 22 shots and 10 shots on goal. She is joined by Tori Cutright (2) as the only Pioneers with multiple goals on the year. Cutright also ranks second on the team in points (5), shots (16) and shots on goal (9).
 
Goalkeeper Mikayla Brown ranks third in the MEC with 6.42 saves per game, as she has posted 77 saves on 209 shots faced this season. Brown has a 3.75 goals against average and a .653 save percentage this year.
 
As a whole, Glenville State has scored eight goals on 7.1 shots per game, to go with five assists, 35 corner kicks and 100 team saves. The Pioneers rank 17^th in the country in saves per game (7.21).