This Week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team kicks-off their 2022 campaign on Saturday August 27 at noon. The Falcons will welcome Edinboro University to Mueller Field.
 
Records: Last season, NDC finished with a record of 6-9-3 (6-7-3 MEC), and a berth into the MEC Tournament, continuing the Falcons run of making the conference tournament every year since joining the MEC in 2013. EU went 9-9 (8-8 PSAC) in 2021, and received a bid into the PSAC Tournament.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels headlines the Notre Dame women's soccer program for his 20^th season at the helm. Shiels carries a 187-118-30 career record, to go along with three MEC Tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Gary Kagiavas remains with the Edinboro women's soccer team for his 27^th season as head coach, holding a career record of 231-184-40.
 
Rankings: Neither team is ranked nationally according to the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame is 1-5 all-time when facing Edinboro, dating back to their first meeting in 2012. The Fighting Scots got the best of the Falcons in the season opener last year, when EU won 1-0 in Edinboro on September 4.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last season, NDC did what they do every year and played in the MEC Tournament, after securing a 4-0 victory at Alderson Broaddus in the regular season finale. The Falcons season would come to an end in the quarterfinals of the tournament with a 2-0 loss at Fairmont State.
 
Senior Madison Luckett and sophomore Louisa Follert highlight the NDC squad after being tabbed with All-MEC honors from a year ago. Luckett is now a two-time All-MEC performer after bringing home Second Team All-MEC honors because of her stout defensive play. Outside of goalkeepers, the Warren, Ohio native is the top returning Falcon in terms of time played after seeing action in all 18 matches and posting 1,580 minutes on the pitch. On the other hand, Follert led Notre Dame's offense a season ago in goals (9), points (20), shots on goal (23) and game-winning goals (3), en route to being awarded All-MEC Honorable Mention and named to the MEC All-Freshman Team, despite playing in only 13 contests.
 
Moreover, juniors Madison Marino and Kalie Blaising will seek to take a step up offensively as they join Follert as the only goal scorers to return for NDC from a year ago. Marino netted the third most goals (4) and tallied the third most points (10), while Blaising paced the team in assists (3) and was third on the team in shots taken (21).
 
Senior goalkeeper Jordan Pasalaqua, a former All-MEC performer, gives head coach Mike Shiels and the Falcons and reassuring feeling when she is in net. Pasalaqua is currently third in NDC program history in career saves per game (4.00), fourth in total saves (176), fourth in shutouts (17), fifth in save percentage (.819) and fifth in goals against average (0.88), as she is one of only five players to amass 20 career wins between the pipes. Last season, the Madison High School product registered 80 saves and contributed seven clean sheets.
 
A slew of new talent will seek to contribute right away for NDC in 2022 with Victoria Long, Jahdai Vasquez, Hannah Smith, Abby Piks, Emma Buda, Daniella Barbetta, Aria Evans-Roskos and Maridza Desir all making their Falcon debut's.
 
As a team in 2021 and stacking up against the Mountain East Conference, Notre Dame ranked seventh in goals per game (1.29), seventh in opponent goals per game (1.29), ninth in shots per game (9.9), ninth in assists (12), seventh in saves (81) and seventh in save percentage (0.779).
 
Noting the Fighting Scots: Last season, Edinboro hit a rough patch during the second half as they dropped seven of their final nine games of the season to finish at the .500 mark. The Fighting Scots still earned a trip into the PSAC Conference Tournament, but fell in the quarterfinal round 2-0 to Mercyhurst.
 
EU will seek to replace their leading goal scorer (5) and shot taker (58) from a year ago, but a balanced three-headed attack from sophomore Morgan Wissner, sophomore Reece Enochs and junior Lexi Boyk should ease the transition for head coach Gary Kagiavas. In 2021, the freshmen duo of Wissner and Enochs contributed right away. Wissner produced four goals (2^nd), 29 shots (3^rd), 17 shots on goal (2^nd) and four game-winning goals (1^st), while Enochs generated three goals (t-3^rd), three assists (1^st), 34 shots (2^nd), 15 shots on goal (3^rd) and two game-winning goals (2^nd). The now junior Boyk, added three goals (t-3^rd), on an efficient 16 shots (4^th) and eight shots on goal (t-4^th).
 
In goal, the Fighting Scots have the tall task to replace Anna Voelker who played and started in 17 games last season, contributing 64 saves and four clean sheets. Sophomore Kaylee Laurel will be assigned to replace Voelker as she is the only player with experience in goal, amassing 164 minutes played. During her limited action in 2021, Laurel played in two matches, starting one, where she recorded eight saves and allowed four goals on 19 total shots faced. Otherwise, Edinboro has one other keeper on their roster in freshman Marin Sleith.
 
As a group in 2021, Edinboro scored 1.44 goals per game and allowed 1.67 goals per game. EU shot the ball 13.8 times per game, recorded 10 assists, to go with 72 saves and a 0.706 save percentage.