BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Trailing 1-0 with 20 minutes to play, NDC's leading goal scorer junior
Miriam Szijarto produced a pair of goals, including the game-winning goal with 21 seconds remaining in the contest, as Notre Dame College (4-2-2, 3-2 MEC) stunned West Virginia Wesleyan (1-6, 0-5 MEC) 2-1 on the road Wednesday evening.
The match started in a stalemate with both sides scoreless at the break. The Falcons had registered three quality opportunities from
Anaya Edwards,
Ashley Rainho and
Savannah Singh but WV Wesleyan kept the score level at 0-0.
The Bobcats scored first during the 52
nd minute, as a deflected pass off the NDC defense led to Ava Badallo finding the back of the net (1-0).
Determined to create an equalizer, Notre Dame ramped up their offensive intensity by tallying 14 second half shots to WVWC's three. Szijarto started the scoring for the Falcons in the 71
st minute, lacing a shot into the top left corner after battling through contact from the Bobcat defense (1-1).
The Falcons continued to apply pressure until the final whistle as WV Wesleyan's goalie was required to make five saves in the final 10 minutes. As a result of the relentless offensive attack, Szijarto struck again, this in the 90
th minute. With only 20 second remaining on the clock
Sophia Motolese delivered a through ball to the Archbishop Hoban High School product, who nutmegged the Bobcat goalkeeper with a game-winner.
The Ravenna, Ohio native picked up where she left off last week as the reigning Mountain East Conference Offensive Player of the Week, as Szijarto buried a pair of the goals for the second time in as many contests, tying a career-high and marking the second multi-goal outing of her career.
Notre Dame has now totaled at least 17 shots in each of their last five games with NDC outshooting WVWC 17-4, including 11-4 in shots on goal. Rainho paced the squad with a teamohgih five shots, followed by Szijarto and
Madison Marino with three.
Following the contest, senior goalkeeper
Jordan Pasalaqua tied Samantha Shoemaker for the third-most wins in NDC program history as the Madison, Ohio native grabbed three saves en route to the victory, the 31
st of her career.
The Notre Dame College women's soccer team will be back in action on Sunday Oct. 1 with kick-off set for noon against Concord University.