Facing a nationally ranked opponent for the first time this season, the Notre Dame College women's soccer team (4-5-3, 3-4-3 MEC) stepped up their defensive efforts as No. 20 West Virginia State (12-0-1, 10-0-1 MEC) boasts one of the top offenses in the country. NDC held WVSU to just 10 shots and one goal on the afternoon, as the Yellow Jackets entered the contest tallying 19.1 shots per game and scoring 3.42 goals per game, both top 10 marks in the nation. Despite the strong defensive effort by the Falcons, NDC fell 1-0 Wednesday afternoon on Mueller Field.
The shots started raining early as both sides logged a pair before the 15-minute mark. Senior goalkeeper Jordan Pasalaqua registered the first save of the match in the 15th minute after a Yellow Jacket set-piece.
Both defenses settled in as just one shot was taken for the remainder of the first half. Again, it was Pasalaqua answering the call to keep the game scoreless into the half.
In the 63rd and 64th minutes, Pasalaqua stepped up in a huge way for NDC with back-to-back acrobatic saves, holding the score at 0-0. The Madison, Ohio native totaled three of her game-high five saves during the second half as both sides ramped up their offensive intensity.
During the 75th minute, West Virginia State seized an opportunity on a counterattack following an NDC corner kick. WVSU dribbled the ball down the length of the field and after a pair of passes, broke the stalemate, 1-0.
Notre Dame College's best chance came in the 86th minute with a shot wide right by sophomore Louisa Follert. The Dortmund, Germany native played in her first action this season after returning from injury. Follert's energy was felt immediately as she paced NDC a year ago in goals scored.
Both sides were evenly matched in terms of shots taken, each totaling 10. However, WVSU placed six shots on goal to NDC's zero. After shooting the ball five times during the first 45, both teams combined for 15 shots in the second stanza. In addition, the Falcons had the upper hand in terms of saves (5-0) and corner kicks (7-1).
The Notre Dame College women's soccer team will be back in action on Sunday Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at Frostburg State University.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up