NDC A-OK in AMC opener
Shutout victory kicks off conference schedule
| Box Score |

CANTON, Ohio – Notre Dame defeated Malone, 1-0, Wednesday to remain unbeaten on the season and start the 2007 American Mideast Conference (AMC) portion of their schedule on the right foot.

Notre Dame (5-0-1, 1-0-0 AMC-N) earned the win with what was their fourth shutout of the season. The win also jump starts the Falcons in the North Division of the AMC. The Wednesday match between the Falcons and Pioneers marked the first intra-division match-up on the fall slate in AMC Women's Soccer.

The Falcons scored at the 31:44 mark in the opening period on an unassisted goal by Erin Orzech (Jr/North Royalton, OH). The goal was the first of the season for Orzech, and it would be all the Falcons would need in an afternoon when goalkeeper Emilie LaMarche (Fr/Rockland, ONT) would stop seven shots for what was also her fourth shutout of the season.

Malone (1-3-0, 0-1-0 AMC-N) outshot NDC, 21-18, for the match and 12-4 in the final frame. The final 1-0 tally on the scoreboard, however, gave the Falcons a leg up in the early AMC North race. The victory also avenged the Pioneers' ousting of the Falcons a year ago in the NAIA Regional Quarterfinals. Malone also beat Notre Dame in the regualar season last year, and in the previous two seasons (2004 and 2005), so the Pioneers had beaten NDC in four straight before Wednesday.

The Blue & Gold will put their undefeated mark on the line twice this week when they travel to Mount Vernon, Ohio, to compete in a four-team invitational. The Falcons will square off against Berry (GA) and Nyack (NY) in the Cougar Classic hosted by Mt. Vernon Nazarane University.

Notes from the Nest...

Back-to-back-to-back: The victory over Malone was NDC's third straight win in 2007. The Falcons matched that feat twice last season, posting a season-long win streak of six (Sep. 18-Oct. 2, 2006).

Nine in net: Orzech became the ninth Falcon to find the back of the net this season with her game-winner. Natalie Bernot (Jr/Mentor, OH) and Megan Wydra (Jr/North Royalton, OH) lead the squad, with three goals each.

Pick six: NDC's 5-0-1 mark is their best six-game start to a season in program history.