Aesling McCullough Notre Dame
Notre Dame (Ohio) Sports Information
1
Winner Gannon GAN-W (1-0-0)
0
Notre Dame College NDC-W (0-1-0)
Winner
Gannon GAN-W
(1-0-0)
1
Final
0
Notre Dame College NDC-W
(0-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN-W 0 1 1
Notre Dame College NDC-W 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Constant Pressure Adds Up To Season-Opening Win Over Notre Dame For Lady Knights

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: Gannon 1, Notre Dame (Ohio)
  • Records: Gannon (1-0-0) | Notre Dame (0-1-0)
  • Location: Mueller Field — South Euclid, Ohio

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER  
KEY SEQUENCE
  • After a scoreless first half, it didn't take long for the Lady Knights to get all the scoring they would need to start the second. An excellent effort from Aesling McCullough (Moon, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) to maintain possession in the offensive half got the ball to Megan McCartney (Chicora, Pa./Karns City) with momentum. The junior took a couple touches to open up space and uncorked a strike from the top left corner of the box, slicing the ball across to the opposite post and in the upper 90 for the only score of the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon picked up a pair of early chances from Kayla Bevacqua (Welland, Ontario/Notre Dame) in the first 10 minutes, but neither shot got on frame. Those were the only two shots in the first 37 minutes of the game, as aggressive defending allowed neither team much space.
  • The Lady Knights held an advantage in possession, and finally got another dangerous look in the 38th minute on a corner. Maddie North's (Leysdown-on-Sea, England/The Westlands School) volley found Emily Cekella (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) in the middle of the box, but her header bounced into the hands of the Notre Dame keeper to keep it scoreless heading into the break.
  • Winning 50-50 balls proved to be a benefit for the Knights early in the second half as McCartney buried her strike for the first goal of the 2019 season. Cekella had a chance to double the lead 10 minutes later, but her tough shot found the hands of the goalie.
  • Notre Dame got its first shot of the game on its next possession, pulling Kennedy Solymosi (Eastlake, Ohio/Lake Catholic) out of the goal a bit to snag a rip from about 20 yards out. A pair of offside calls against the Falcons cut down scoring chances, but their most dangerous opportunity of the game came in the final 90 seconds.
  • After a shot wide gave the hosts a chance with a corner, the entry bounced around inside the box without anyone getting their foot on it. A deflection bounced out near the opposite post to NDC's Kady Cushing, who nodded into what would have been a wide-open half of the net. Instead, Brigid Casey (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) was guarding the line, and headed the shot out of harm's way to preserve the win.
     
GAME NOTES
  • The victory continues a remarkable run for the program, which hasn't lost a season opener since the 2007 season. The Knights are now 11-0-1 in their last 12 debuts, including three consecutive shutouts.
  • The one-goal win puts a positive light on close games to start the 2019 season after the Lady Knights suffered heartbreaking defeats in close matches last season, going 3-6 in one-goal games and falling in all three 1-0 games on the year.
  • McCartney has already matched her 2018 scoring total. It was the junior's second game-winning goal of her career.
  • It was Solymosi's second shutout of her career, following a 110-minute scoreless draw against Seton Hill last season.
UP NEXT
  • Gannon will return to Erie for its home opener Wednesday, hosting Pitt-Johnstown in the first game of PSAC play.
  • Live video and live stats will be available for the 3 p.m. kickoff from McConnell Family Stadium.
  • The Lady Knights hold a 6-1 edge in the all-time series, although the Mountain Cats snuck away with a win in their trip to Gannon last season.
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