This Week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team hits the road to battle a pair of MEC North foes. First, NDC heads to Fairmont State on Wednesday Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Next, the Falcons travel to Wheeling to face the Cardinals on Sunday Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 8-4-3 (7-4-1 MEC), totaling 22 points and sitting in fifth place in the Mountain East Conference. FSU sits at 6-7-2 (5-6-1 MEC), tallying 16 points to be in sixth place in the MEC. WU owns a 5-8-2 (2-7-2 MEC) mark, to post eight points for ninth place in the MEC. Note, the top eight teams in the MEC advance into the MEC Tournament.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels headlines the Notre Dame women's soccer program for his 21^st season at the helm. Shiels carries a 202-130-37 career record, to go along with three MEC Tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Kernell Borneo is in his third season as the head coach of Fairmont State. Emmanuel Awotula holds a career record of 11-19-3 in his second season with Wheeling.
 
Rankings: Notre Dame remains ranked No. 10 in the Atlantic Region according to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) week 8 poll, however none of these teams are ranked nationally.
 
Series History: NDC holds a 9-6-4 all-time record against Fairmont State, dating back to their first meeting in 2015, and including Notre Dame's 3-1 victory back on Sept. 17 on Mueller Field. NDC is 19-2 all-time when facing Wheeling, dating back to their first meeting in 2013, and including Notre Dame's 2-1 victory back on Sept. 20 on Mueller Field.
 
Noting the NDC Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame split their two contests, beginning with a 1-0 defeat to Frostburg State. The Falcons responded on Sunday by securing a 4-1 victory on Senior Day over West Liberty. Four different Falcons scored as Miriam Szijarto, Louisa Follert, Sophia Motolese and Ashley Rainho found the back of the net. Following the final whistle, Jordan Pasalaqua became the program leader in career wins and minutes played.
 
Szijarto highlights the Notre Dame College offense with the most goals scored by an NDC Falcon in the last 21 years. The junior leads the Mountain East Conference and is tied seventh in NCAA DII with 13 goals scored. In addition, the Ravenna, Ohio native has 29 points on the year, sixth in NDC single season history, while being tops in the MEC and tied 10^th in the nation. The Archbishop Hoban High School product has been clutch for the Falcons as she owns six game-winning goals this year, tied for the most in a single season in NDC program history with Lauren Acker from 2009. Moreover, six game-winning goals are two more than any other mark in the MEC and currently tied for second in the entire country.
 
Five other Falcons post multiple goals on the year in Sophia Motolese (3) Mia Maruna (3), Louisa Follert (2), Ashley Rainho (2) and Savannah Singh (2). Follert acts as the team top facilitator with four assists, tied for eighth in the MEC. She is joined by Szijarto (3), S. Motolese (3), Rainho (2) and Drew Barr (2) as players with multiple dimes.
 
Senior Jordan Pasalaqua has been a staple of the NDC defense for several years as the keeper owns the most wins in NDC program history and the fifth-most in MEC history. Alongside the most minutes played in program history, the Madison, Ohio native now owns 26 career shutouts, second in program history and fourth in league history. Lastly, Pasalaqua posts 331 career saves, second in NDC history, nine away from surpassing Kristy Kolschetzky' 339 from 2010-13.
 
This season, Pasalaqua ranks third in the MEC in save percentage (.831), fourth in saves (74) fourth in goals against average (1.03), tied for fourth in shutouts (3) and sixth in saves per game (4.93). The senior has allowed 15 goals while making 74 saves on 179 shots faced.
 
As a team, Notre Dame averages 2.00 goals per game on 14.9 shots per game. The Falcons have scored 30 goals on 21 assists to go with 60 corner kicks.
 
Noting the FSU Falcons: Last week, Fairmont State pulled off a pair of thrilling 4-3 victories, as an 89^th minute winner from Isabella Maldonado was needed to best West Liberty on Wednesday. FSU scored twice after the 75^th minute to best Wheeling on Sunday, Maldonado and Serenity Thomas found the late goals for the Falcons.
 
Alejandra Puerto leads the FSU Falcons with six goals scored and an MEC leading 52 shots taken. Puerto ranks ninth in DII in shots per game (4.33). Six other players tally multiple goals, as Maldonado is the team's leader in assists, ranking third in the MEC with six dimes.
 
In goal, Olivia Johnston allows 1.130 goals against per game, sixth in the MEC. Johnston supports the third-most shutouts (4), seventh-most saves per game (4.31) and ninth-best save percentage (.727). The keeper has surrendered 21 goals on 128 shots faced to go with 56 saves.
 
As a unit, Fairmont State averages 1.73 goals per game on 12.9 shots per game. The FSU Falcons have scored 26 goals on 17 assists and 81 corner kicks.
 
Noting the Cardinals: Last week, Wheeling routed Salem 11-0 on Wednesday afternoon as Mary DiFonzo registered a hat trick.  Next, the Cardinals fell in dramatic fashion to Fairmont State on Sunday 4-3 as late goals by FSU after the 75^th minute sealed the deal.
 
DiFonzo paces a high-powered Wheeling offense with 11 goals scored and five assists to post 27 points. DiFonzo ranks tops of the team in each category, while being second in points, tied for second in goals and fourth in assists in the conference. Moreover, DiFonzo ranks tied for 12^th in the country in goals and she is 12^th in points.
 
Talynn DeBartolo adds seven goals (t-9^th MEC) and four assists (t-8^th MEC), Nyah Smith offers six goals and three assists, while three other Cardinals register multiple goals this season.
 
Between the pipes, Olivia Kqira ranks fifth in the entire country with 107 saves, and 10^th in saves per game (7.13). However, Kqira is seated seventh in the MEC in save percentage (.770) and 10^th in goals against average (2.503). The WU keeper has allowed 32 goals on 256 shots faced.
 
As a whole, Wheeling averages 2.4 goals per game on 14.1 shots per game. The Cardinals rank tied for 24^th in the country with 36 goals scored, to go with 18 assists and 53 corner kicks.