FROSTBURG, Md. – The 21^st-ranked Frostburg State Women's Soccer team kicked off their home and conference season with a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame (Ohio) on Sunday evening.
 
In a match that was delayed an hour due to lightning, things finally got started with FSU making their way up the field on a couple occasions but not generating a shot. The Falcons enjoyed a spell of possession over the next few minutes, getting one wide effort away before the hosts regained control of the game.
 
Senior Lela Clark scooped the ball over the bar on her left foot, followed by a tame effort on target from sophomore Carly Gillette that was straight at keeper Jordan Pasalaqua. One of the best chances fell to junior Madi Allen, who stretched in an effort to get on the end of junior Carolyn DeSena's cross but couldn't get the contact required, with the shot going wide.
 
A free kick was awarded just outside of the Falcon box, as senior Hannah Thompson stepped up and tried to fake out Pasalaqua but hit it right into her chest. Senior Toni Fiocco-Mizer finally broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from 35 yards out that sailed over Pasalaqua and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead 24 minutes in.
 
The Bobcats continued to dominate possession and chances, with sophomore Jayme Sooy getting away a shot that again was too close to Pasalaqua. Frostburg's defense held NDC to just one shot in the half, as the sides headed into halftime at 1-0.
 
FSU didn't have to wait long to double their lead, as DeSena swung in a corner that was met by junior Cat Smith, coming back off the post to Fiocco-Mizer, who tapped home from just a couple feet out for a 2-0 advantage.
 
Notre Dame ramped up their intensity, forcing senior Ashley Bilger into a pair of quick saves. The first deflected off Smith, forcing the netminder to redirect and dive to her left, while the latter was a flying stop on a ball headed for the top of the goal to preserve the two-goal lead.
 
Frostburg settled down and created further chances, with Allen, Gillette, and junior Keely Knotts all seeing efforts go off target. Gillette and Sooy both had shots saved by Pasalaqua, as the game became a defensive struggle over a long stretch, with FSU protecting the lead and NDC lacking scoring chances. Bilger made one last stop in the final four minutes, diving to claw a ball headed to the upper right 90 away and preserving the shutout.
 
The Bobcats had 18 shots in the contest, compared to Notre Dame's four, with seven on target to three. Bilger made three saves in net to earn the team's second-straight clean sheet.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 3-0, while NDC falls to 0-1-2. FSU heads on the road for their next contest on Wednesday, September 13 at 8 p.m. against Salem (WV) in Bridgeport, WV. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.