April 1, 2007

Falcons wash out Bearcats
NDC picks up eighth win in rainy match-up

LATROBE, Pennsylvania - The Notre Dame Falcons (8-2) picked up their eighth win of the season with a 14-13 victory over Saint Vincent College (3-2). After ten ties and seven lead changes, the Royal and Gold were able to maintain the lead as time expired in the rainy Sunday contest.

The Falcons got on the board at the 24:33 mark from an unassisted goal by Jenna Schuerman (So/Savage, MN) off a fast break from a Gena McPherson (Fr/Brampton, ON) draw. The Saint Vincent Bearcats answered back at 21:08 with the first of four goals from Jenna Moon (Sr/Damascus, MD). Over the next 11 minutes, the Falcons and Bearcats traded goals with a score of 6-5 in favor of Saint Vincent heading into halftime. NDC rocketed 19 shots in the first half but a strong performance by SVC’s Erica Lisi (So/Camillus, NY) made it difficult to secure a lead for NDC.

Midfielder Dani Ulry (Fr/Gahanna, OH) came out in the second half with an incredible  four goal performance, including one lead changing and three game-tying goals to keep NDC alive and kicking in the first five minutes. SVC’s Lauren Fedor (Sr/Latrobe, PA) took the lead for the Bearcats during a three-goal run to put the Bearcats back up at 11-9 with 15:58 remaining in the game. Beginning with a free position shot from Jenn Morse (Fr/Brampton, ON), the Falcons then went on a five goal streak to put NDC ahead for good. McPherson scored the game-winning twelfth goal at the 11-minute mark when the match-up became a game of ball control and possession.

Off the next draw, the Falcons took possession again and were quickly fouled by SVC. McPherson put NDC up 13-11, followed shortly by the final Falcon goal by Molly Merrill (So/Medina, OH) which was her third of the game. The Bearcats crept back with two quick goals but goalkeeper Kylie Flett (Jr/Adelaide, AUS) came up with two key saves while Emily Jones (Fr/Kent, OH) and McPherson played a stifling defensive game to preserve the win for NDC.

Ulry and McPherson lead NDC scoring with four goals apiece while Schuerman finished with two goals and two assists. Merrill finished with three goals. Morse rounded out the scoring with one. Jones also dished out one helper.

Flett had nine saves in the win.

The Falcons host the Allegheny Gators on April 5 at 7:00pm before heading into Easter Break.

Notes from the Nest…

Dani’s Day: Dani Ulry’s four goal performance was a collegiate career best and also marks the first time this season any Falcon has been responsible for four consecutive Royal and Gold netfinders.

“Gr-eight” Expectations: Head Coach Candace Taglianetti set a season goal of doubling the number of wins (four) from the 2006 season. At the helm of the third-year program, NDC has done exactly that. “Each game we set small goals to be just a little better and try just a little harder than the game before. With hard work and leaving it all on the field, the rest will fall into place,” Taglianetti said.

Hot Shots: The Falcons have outshot their opponents 340-248 this season while averaging 34.0 shots per game. In the match-up with Saint Vincent a combined 93 shots were taken between the two teams (NDC 47, SVC 46) in the Falcon win. Molly Merrill leads the team in shot percentage with .640 on 16 goals from 25 shots.