SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College and Edinboro University have matched up early in the season in four of the last five years and that recent series is now tied up at two wins. In the first half of Saturday's game, Notre Dame grabbed the lead with an Edinboro own goal before junior Madison Marino scored in the 36th minute. Goalkeeper Jordan Pasalaqua and the defense finished the shutout to win, 2-0.

"Every time we play [Edinboro], it's going to be a battle," said head coach Mike Shiels. "For us to take advantage and get a couple of goals early in the game, was great."

The Fighting Scots took the first two shots of the contest, and held possession for the first much of the first 10 minutes of the game. NDC's defense then clamped down and did not allow a shot the rest of the first half.

The Falcons had their first great look when the ball was crossed in the box to junior Anaya Edwards, but her shot stayed low and was saved. In the 29th minute, freshman Emma Buda worked the ball on the left side of the field. She put the ball in front of the goal and it ricocheted off a defender's foot into the net.

Less than ten minutes later, following a nice pass up the field, Marino and Hannah Smith sent the ball back-and-forth. Smith sent a final pass across to Marino, which was nearly taken away by an EU defender, but the Falcons' forward popped a shot through the defender and goalkeeper Kaylee Lauriel.

"I got a long ball down the line, I crossed it, but it was crossed right back and I scored," Marino explained.

"We've really talked to the players about going out there and competing," Shiels mentioned. "For us to be successful, we're going to have to tackle, going to have to put the extra work in and they did that. No complaints about how we competed against a good Edinboro team."

Edinboro went on the attack in the second half and the Fighting Scots out-shot NDC 7-3 in the final 45 minutes. Between the 46th minute and the 58th minute, Edinboro took four shots on target.

All five of Pasalaqua's saves came in the second stanza.

"[Edinboro] made some adjustments, and we struggled a little bit, but Jordan came up big," Shield said. "And that's what you need if you're going to protect that lead, you need a goalkeeper to make those saves."

Notre Dame will travel to Tiffin University, to play on Sept. 4, at 1 p.m.