ELKINS, W.Va. – Last November, in the Mountain East Conference Semifinals, Notre Dame College and Davis & Elkins College played to a 2-2 draw, before NDC advanced in penalty kicks. Although Wednesday's contest was a regular season match, the two teams battled again for 90 minutes to a scoreless draw in NDC's first conference game of the year.
Neither team could get any offense going throughout the first half. Notre Dame took three shots in the first 45 minutes, one shot on target, while D&E took one total shot. The two teams combined for just three corner kicks.
The second half was much different. Although nobody found the back of the net, the offenses increased the intensity. About three minutes into the second stanza, a hard D&E foul took place just outside the box and junior
Ailton Fagner Silva set up for a free kick. His shot was knocked away and the Davis & Elkins defense was credited with a save.
In a four minute span from the 66th minute to the 70th minute, Davis & Elkins had two corners that nearly put the Senators on the scoreboard. On the first corner kick, Mattia Bui shot high, the ball was initially stopped by NDC goalkeeper
Danilo Abayo Wilson, but then rolled away. The rest of the NDC defense worked together to clear it. On the second corner, Wilson jumped to punch the ensuing shot away.
Notre Dame had an opportunity in the 74th minute, following a corner. Junior
Callum Cleary sent a shot in that was punched away by D&E goalkeeper Grant Wyles.
The Senators, again, missed out on a couple late chances to take the lead, in the final ten minutes. The Senators got the ball into the box and took a couple shots over a chaotic few seconds, but Wilson hauled the ball in to stop the threat. And then with seven minutes remaining, D&E had momentum down the field with NDC's defense trying to get into position. The Senators were able to center the ball with a pass at the top of the box, but the shot rolled out to the left.
D&E took eight shots in the second half, while NDC sent in four. There was also a major discrepancy in the corner kicks, as the Senators had seven to NDC's one.
The shutout is NDC's second in its first three games.
Notre Dame's three-game road trip continues as they head to West Liberty University to battle the Hilltoppers, on Sept. 10, at 1 p.m.
