This Week: The Notre Dame College women's soccer team hosts Wheeling University on Wednesday Sept. 20 beginning at 1 p.m. Next, NDC travels to Salem University for a non-conference affair on Sunday Sept. 24 at 4 p.m.
 
Records: NDC holds a record of 1-2-2 (1-2 MEC), as WU is 2-3 (0-2 MEC) and Salem is winless at 0-3.
 
Coaches Corner: Mike Shiels headlines the Notre Dame women's soccer program for his 21^st season at the helm. Shiels carries a 194-126-36 career record, to go along with three MEC Tournament championships and four MEC Coach of the Year honors. Emmanuel Awotula is in his second season as head coach of Wheeling University, with a career record of 8-14-1. Florin Marton is the head men's and women's soccer coach at Salem.
 
Rankings: None of these teams are ranked according to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame is 18-2 all-time when facing Wheeling, dating back 2013 and including the season split last year. WU defeated NDC 3-2 in the first meeting on Mueller Field, before the Falcons got revenge on the road 3-0. Sunday marks the first ever matchup between NDC and Salem.
 
Noting the Falcons: Last week, Notre Dame split their pair of matches, first with loss at West Liberty. Despite falling 2-0, NDC created ample opportunities by outshooting the Hilltoppers 23-11. On Sunday, the Falcons picked up their first win of the year, besting Fairmont State 3-1. Mia Maruna, Miriam Szijarto and Anaya Edwards tallied goals for NDC as Notre Dame outshot Fairmont State 19-5.
 
Maruna and Szijarto pace NDC on the year with a pair of goals apiece. Maruna also leads the squad in shots (15) and shots on goal (6). Edwards and Ashley Rainho are the other goal scoring Falcons, while Rainho, Drew Barr, Kalie Blaising Sophia Motolese and Meredith Foster have facilitated with an assist.
 
In goal, senior Jordan Pasalaqua owns a 1.60 goals against average, a .733 save percentage, including 22 saves on 52 shots faced.
 
As a whole, Notre Dame averages 1.2 goals per game on 13.6 shots per game. NDC has scored six times, recording four assists and 25 corner kicks.
 
Noting the Cardinals: Last week, Wheeling kicked off conference play with a pair of loss on the home turf to Fairmont State and Frostburg State. Wheeling fell to Fairmont State 1-0, including being outshot 20-11. WU lost a high-scoring affair with Frostburg State 3-1, as the Bobcats outshot the Cardinals 39-5.
 
On the year, Wheeling is led by the duo of Mary DiFonzo and Nyah Smith who have scored three goals apiece. DiFonzo and Talynn DeBartolo pace the team with 22 shots taken, as DeBartolo and Olivia Hoban are the other goal scorers for WU. Wheeling is yet to register an assist on the season.
 
Olivia Kqira is between the pipes for the Cardinals, maintaining a .816 save percentage, 2.00 goals against average, to go with 31 saves on 65 shots faced.
 
As a team, Wheeling scores 1.60 goals per game on 16.0 shots per game. The Cardinals have scored eight goals, zero assists and 32 corner kicks.
 
Noting the Tigers: Last week, Salem was outscored 20-0, as the Tigers lost 7-0 to Frostburg State and 13-0 at West Liberty. SU was outmatched in both contests as they were outshot 43-0 and 52-1, respectively. The last time Salem reigned victorious was Oct. 13, 2022 in a 6-1 victory at Washington Adventist.
 
Salem is led by Chloe Owens who has the lone goal for the Tigers on the season. SU has generated just two shots on the year.
 
In goal, Sarah Cabrera has been under fire all season long, allowing 8.33 goals per game with a .648 save percentage. Cabrera logs 46 saves on 116 shots faced.
 
As a unit, Salem posts 0.33 goals per game on 0.7 shots per game. The Tigers have scored one goal, tallied two assists and one corner kick this year.