SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – A season-high three goals fueled the Notre Dame College women's soccer team (1-2-2, 1-2 MEC) to their first win of the year, defeating Fairmont State (3-2, 2-1 MEC) by a score of 3-1 on Sunday afternoon on Mueller Field. NDC was relentless on the offensive side of the ball, registering 19 shots and scoring three times against a defense that entered today allowing just one goal all year.
 
After the game, head coach Mike Shiels said, "We've been talking and we thought we have had a few good performances and just didn't get the goals we needed to. It was good today for us to get something finished in the final third."

The Falcons came out of the gate firing on all cylinders with Anaya Edwards, Madison Marino and Maridza Desir logging shots on goal in the first 16 minutes of the match.
 
In the 17^th minute, sophomore Mia Maruna found the back of the net after intercepting an FSU pass and dribbling around the keeper to finish on a wide-open goal (1-0). The goal marks her second of the season.
 
Fairmont State answered immediately, as Kylee Kosek scored the equalizer 15 seconds later in the same minute (1-1).
 
The NDC Falcons got back to work by continuing to apply pressure on the FSU defense. Notre Dame tallied several opportunities in the 25^th, 29^th, 30^th and 31^st minutes before a penalty kick was awarded to the Falcons in the 34^th minute mark. Despite a golden opportunity from the spot, the score remained level as Ashley Rainho's shot hit off the right post.
 
Determined to take a lead into the break, Notre Dame's offensive prowess paid off with a quality goal from Miriam Szijarto, set up on a perfect through ball by Drew Barr with only 12 seconds left until halftime (2-1). The goal marks the second of the year for Szijarto and first assist for Barr.
 
An impressive first half featured a 2-1 NDC lead at the half, as Notre Dame outshot Fairmont State 15-1 in the period.
 
Senior keeper Jordan Pasalaqua had a rather quiet afternoon, as she recorded her only saves of the day in the 50^th and 62^nd minutes, preserving the NDC lead.
 
The Falcons doubled their advantage in the 69^th minute when Sophia Motolese laced a free kick off the right woodwork allowing Edwards to clean up the rebound for the first goal of her career (3-1).
 
Notre Dame would preserve the 3-1 lead over the remaining 20 minutes to secure their first win of the season.

"Momentum is such a big part of the season," stated Shiels. "We have been fighting uphill and struggling to get results we thought we could have gotten, but getting this first one here and building on it for Wednesday. It is great to do it at home."
 
S. Motolese paced the NDC offense with four shots, including a pair of free kicks that ricochet off the pipes. Maruna and Desir joined in with three shots in the contest, alongside Hailee Smith, Edwards and Blaising each with a pair.
 
As aforementioned, Maruna, Szijarto and Edwards did the damage for NDC as Barr facilitated with an assist.
 
In comparing the two sides, Notre Dame outshot Fairmont State 19-5, including 11-3 in shots on goal. The NDC Falcons produced eight corner kicks to FSU's three, while FSU totaled eight saves to NDC's two.
 
The Notre Dame College women's soccer team will be back in action on Wednesday Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. when Wheeling University comes to South Euclid, Ohio.