SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Through extremely challenging weather conditions, No. 23 ranked Notre Dame College fought through and scored four goals over the span of 20 minutes to secure a sweep of the season series with West Virginia Wesleyan College, on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons have 12 wins in a season for the first time since 2019.

Throughout the day, rain and snow fell from the sky and the players worked to find their footing through the first 45 minutes. In the first half, the teams combined for just 10 shots, with NDC taking seven of them.

W.Va. Wesleyan did take two shots on goal in the first two minutes of the game before the Notre Dame defense settled in. Forty-eight seconds into the game, a foul was called on the Falcons. The free kick was taken just a few yards outside of the box and Sam Newell sent his shot toward the NDC goal, but Notre Dame's Pedro Alves fell to his left to push the ball away. Alves also saved a shot, just under two minutes into the game, when Nugzar Barkaia sent a shot on target. However, those would be the only two saves Alves would have to make in the game.

On the other side, Notre Dame's Connor O'Reilly and Callum Cleary each took shots on goal early in the first half.

"Today's weather was a huge challenge and it did affect both teams in the first half," said head coach Carl Nolan. "In the second half we managed the game better and adjusted to the conditions. We created some good chances and scored for good goals. West Virginia Wesleyan is a very well coached team that is difficult to break down. This was a big win."

In the second half, the Falcons were very aggressive. A pass was sent up the field to sophomore Carlos Almeida. He moved to his right, and then cut back to the left and took a shot from about 25 yards away. Wesleyan's goalkeeper Bryant Sheffield jumped and tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Sheffield saved eight shots in the game, but allowed four goals.

With 40 minutes remaining in the game, Barkaia had another chance as he attacked and got the ball past Alves. The Falcons reacted quickly and Cleary alertly sent the ball away for the team save.

The Falcons finally broke through in the 61st minute. Sophomore Taylor Dyson moved the ball toward the middle of the field and took a defender with him in the attacking third. He sent the ball backward with a heel pass that set O'Reilly up for a goal.

Two minutes later, Notre Dame was peppering the Wesleyan defense with shots that were being deflected. That was until Dyson found space and sent a line drive into the net to give NDC a 2-0 lead.

The floodgates opened and between the Falcons' second and third goal, the team took four more shots on target.

In the 72nd minute, Almeida got his goal. Junior Leonardo Palmieri sent the ball near the middle to Almeida, who went behind the back to switch feet around a defender and scored. The final goal of the game went into the net in the 79th minute. On a well-executed play up the field, Alves used a goal kick to send the ball up to Dyson, who then found senior Ned Dry in space for a goal.

Dyson has recorded multiple assists in two of the last three games. He now has nine goals and nine assists on the season.

Notre Dame took 13 shots in the second half, including 10 shots on goal.

The Falcons will head to Concord University, on Oct. 26, for a 3:30 p.m. start.