ASHLAND, Ohio – On Friday evening, Notre Dame College went on the road for the second time this season. After falling behind early in the contest, NDC pulled within two goals, in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Ultimately, Ashland University pulled away for a 19-15 victory.
 
Notre Dame won the opening draw, and dominated the draw control throughout the first half with 13 to Ashland's two.
 
Ashland forced a turnover and scored the opening goal on a free position shot, after a foul was called. AU won the next draw and went down the field to score, thirty seconds later.
 
Notre Dame goalkeeper Annika Duncan saved a shot and a yellow card was given to Ashland. That allowed the Falcons to sustain possession and move into Ashland's territory, where freshman Gwen Bogash scored off an assist from sophomore Jovie Noack, with 9:13 to go in the first quarter.
 
Later in the opening stanza, junior Joselyn Storm won the draw control and would score NDC's second goal of the contest. At the end of the first quarter, Ashland led, 6-2.
 
Notre Dame's first goal of the second quarter came with 2:48 on the clock. Junior Grace Nickoloff scored on a free position shot, the first of her five goals on the day, which tied her career-high.
 
The Falcons scored three times in the final three minutes of the half, as Storm won the next two draws, leading to another goal by Nickoloff and one by junior Lexington Carson.
 
Ashland led, 8-5, at halftime after taking nine more shots than the Falcons in the first two quarters.
 
After the break, the Eagles went on a 4-0 run in the first three minutes, before NDC responded. Following an AU turnover, NDC moved toward the goal and sophomore Grace Rotter scored on another free position attempt.
 
Four minutes later, the Falcons took advantage of another Ashland turnover. Nickoloff scored and then, a minute-and-a-half later, Rotter found the back of the net. Both of those goals were free position shots.
 
Ashland totaled nine turnovers in the third quarter and NDC continued to take advantage. Storm scored to cap Notre Dame's 4-0 response run, making the score 12-9, in favor of AU.
 
The Falcons scored three of the first four goals in the fourth period. Carson, Noack and freshman Tatum Hagen all put the ball into the net in the first five minutes. At the 10:07-mark in the fourth, Notre Dame trailed Ashland by two, 14-12.
 
But, the Eagles had an answer as they put the next three goals on the scoreboard. NDC attempted to claw back into it, with another Nickoloff goal at the 1:04-mark, to pull the Falcons within three. That would be the final goal for either team.
 
Nickoloff also had four draw controls to go along with her five goals. Storm added nine draw controls with two goals. Both Rotter and Noack finished with two goals and two assists.
 
NDC will travel to Romeoville, Ill. to meet Lewis University, on March 2. The start time is scheduled for 5 p.m.