This Week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team travels to nationally-ranked Charleston on Wednesday Oct. 4, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. The Falcons return to Mueller Field on Sunday Oct. 8 to play Davis & Elkins College at 3 p.m.
 
Records: NDC heads into the week on a five-match unbeaten streak, their longest stretch since 2019. The Falcons maintain a record of 4-2-3 (3-2-1 MEC) and sit in second place in the Mountain East Conference North Division. UC holds a mark of 7-0-2 (6-0-1 MEC) and are in first place in the MEC South Division. D&E is currently 2-6-1 (1-4-1 MEC) and tied for fourth in the MEC South Division.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels headlines the Notre Dame women's soccer program for his 21^st season at the helm. Shiels carries a 198-128-37 career record, to go along with three MEC Tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Gary Ogilvie is in his first season with the University of Charleston women's soccer team. Alberto Magana is the head coach of Davis & Elkins.
 
Rankings: The University of Charleston is currently ranked no. 14 in the country according to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame holds an 11-4-1 all-time record when facing Charleston, dating back to their first meeting in 2013, and including NDC's 2-0 victory over the Golden Eagles on Oct. 9 last year. Notre Dame is 1-1-1 all-time against Davis & Elkins, dating back to their first meeting in 2019 and including the 1-1 draw from last season.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame extended their unbeaten streak to five consecutive contests, beginning with a dramatic come-from-behind victory over WV Wesleyan on Wednesday. Trailing 1-0 in the 70^th minute, junior Miriam Szijarto generated a pair of goals, including the game-winning goal with 21 seconds remaining. On Sunday, NDC and Concord dueled to a scoreless draw for the Falcons second shutout of the season, as senior Jordan Pasalaqua recorded a season-high six saves to hold the top offensive team in the conference and third best offense in the nation at bay.
 
Szijarto fuels the Notre Dame College offense with a team-high 15 points and seven goals, ranking tied for second in the MEC and tied for 12^th in the country. In addition, the Ravenna, Ohio native ranks atop the conference and tied for fifth in the country with a team-high three game-winning goals. Sophomore Mia Maruna offers offensive support with three goals on 22 shots and 12 shots on goal. Seven other Falcons have hit the scoresheet with one goal apiece.
 
Junior Sophia Motolese is the Falcons primary facilitator with a team-high three assists, ranking tied for seventh in the MEC. Motolese is joined by senior Drew Barr (2) and seven other Falcons to post an assist on the year.
 
In goal, Pasalaqua owns a 0.783 save percentage (6^th MEC), 1.18 goals against average (5^th MEC), to go with 36 saves (3^rd MEC) on 81 shots faced and 10 goals allowed (t-5^th MEC).
 
As a team, Notre Dame averages 1.89 goals per game on 16.1 shots per game. The Falcons have scored 17 goals on 12 assists to go with 37 corner kicks. NDC rank 33^rd in the nation in shots per game.
 
Noting the Golden Eagles: Last week, Charleston continued to stay unbeaten on the season with a 4-0 win over West Liberty on Wednesday, before traveling to Frostburg State to down the Bobcats 1-0 with a penalty kick goal, despite being outshot 16-13 in the match.
 
The Golden Eagles deploy an ultra-balanced scoring attack as six players have at least three goals apiece, led by Juliette Lucas' five goals scored. Sophia Mankowski and Frankie Morrow have scored four times for UC, while Lina Jaime is the team's leader in points (11), by registering three goals and team-high five assists. Jaime is tied atop the league and tied for 13^th in the nation in total assists.
 
In goal, Jordan Maynard has five shutouts on the year, ranking tops in the MEC and tied for ninth in the country. In addition, Maynard leads the conference in save percentage (.914), good for sixth in NCAA Division II. The keeper has 32 saves on 72 shots faced, while allowing three goals.
 
As a unit, Charleston averages 2.89 goals per game on 15.7 shots per game. The Golden Eagles have scored 26 goals on 17 assists and 50 corner kicks. UC ranks tied of 14^th in the nation in goals scored.
 
Noting the Senators: Last week, Davis & Elkins dominated Salem 8-1 on Wednesday, outshooting the Tigers 22-4. On Friday, the Senators fell during a wild high-scoring affair which featured seven first half goals at Wheeling. D&E and WU exchanged 20 and 21 shots, respectively but WU won the contest 6-3.
 
Alexa Karsel is the heart and soul to the Senators offense, posting a team-high eight goals and four assists. Karsel ranks atop the MEC and tied for eighth in the country in goals, while being tied for 5^th in the MEC and tied for 23^rd in the country in assists.
 
Gabriela Acevedo is the main goal tender for the Senators by recording six starts and 495 minutes played this year. Acevedo has a 0.686 save percentage, 2.91 goals against average as she has surrendered 16 goals on 91 shots faced, including tallying 35 saves. Acevedo ranks third in the MEC with 5.83 saves per game.
 
As a whole, Davis & Elkins averages 2.33 goals per game on 11.3 shots per game. The Senators have scored 21 goals on nine assists and 30 corner kicks.