NDC duels to a draw in home opener
1-1 tie knots Falcons with Shawnee St

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio –Notre Dame came out kicking in its home opener at Korb Field Wednesday night, but after 110 minutes and 22 shots on goal, the Falcons settled for a 1-1 draw with the Shawnee State Bears.

After a scoreless first half, Natalie Bernot (Jr/Mentor, OH) connected on an excellent feed from Lisa Good (So/Sandusky, OH) at 50:15.  Bernot’s goal came after a slew of missed opportunities; NDC had multiple breakaways either mishandled offensively or stonewalled by SSU goalkeeper Sam Rolsen (So/Cincinnati, OH).

The Bears’ net minder would collect 21 saves for the game, stifling Falcon forwards on multiple plays that looked ripe for a goal.

“She played a great game,” said NDC Head Coach Mike Shiels, tipping his hat to the sophomore goalkeeper.  “It felt like we played well enough to put a few goals on the board.”

For her part, the Falcons’ starter in goal, Emilie LaMarche (Fr/Rockland, ONT), kept the Bears’ offense in check.  LaMarche played behind what was another strong effort from an improved NDC backfield.  She would face seven shots on goal.  The one that got through was a magnificent effort from Shawnee State’s Lacie Abella (So/Zanesville, OH) at the 72-minute mark.  Abella’s whistled a shot off the crossbar and into the net to tie the game.

It turned out to be an equalizer that felt more like a moral victory for SSU.  Neither squad could muster a goal in the final 18 minutes of regulation play or in two 10-minute overtime frames, although NDC continued to put together scoring opportunities in the shadow of SSU’s goal.

For the game, the Blue & Gold out-shot the Bears, 38-7.  Kelly Brown (Sr/Parma, OH) led the Falcon charge with 11 shots and five shots on goal.

Bernot’s tally was her third of the season.  The junior transfer (from John Carroll) now has eight points (three goals, two assists) in three games to lead the team.

The end result of Notre Dame’s home opener was perhaps befitting for two teams who came into the match undefeated and unscored upon.  Shawnee State (3-0-1) came into the match off three shutout victories, NDC off of two.
 
Notre Dame (2-0-1) puts its undefeated record on the line again on Friday, when they travel east to face the Franciscan University of Steubenville.