By Kendrick Jackson, Advertising Manager
As Notre Dame (Ohio) tries to avoid their first loss of the season, Urbana will look for only its second win. West Liberty is about to encounter the tale of two teams in this weekend’s matchups, facing the No. 1 team and the last team in the Mountain East Conference.
WLU is locked-in as the team travels to South Euclid, Ohio this Sunday. Notre Dame interrupted the Lady Toppers’ historic season by defeating WLU in last year’s playoff semifinals.
Notre Dame only had one loss during last year’s regular season, and the Lady Falcons look to be destined for a similar path, as they remain undefeated this season. Seasoned players for the Lady Falcons have not disappointed, as well as the new faces that joined their team this fall.
Alexis Manoa, a senior from Strongsville, Ohio, earned MEC Player of the Week honors for her performances during week two. As of Sept. 18, Monoa has assisted on four goals, while scoring her lone goal against Wheeling Jesuit. Freshmen Janelle Bernal and Kyra McDowell have been very assertive in their first season as Lady Falcons. As of Sept. 18, forward Bernal has registered three goals and one assist, including two game-winning goals.
Goalkeeper McDowell has only allowed four goals, including one shutout as of Sept. 18. The Lady Falcons will seek to continue its dominant play against WLU. However, bad blood between both teams means that a very competitive contest awaits.
After their matchup against Notre Dame, our Lady Toppers will return home Wednesday to face-off against Urbana. Urbana is currently sitting at the bottom of the MEC, with its lone win coming against Fairmont State.
As the Lady Blue Knights search for only its second win of the season, it will also look to overcome its losing streak against West Liberty. Urbana has not won a game against our Lady Toppers since Sept. 13, 2015.
The Lady Blue Knights have displayed a few bright spots in light of a modest season thus far. In their second game of the season, Urbana took the No. 1 team, Notre Dame, to overtime, where they eventually took the loss.
Urbana will have two opportunities to conquer its second win of the season this weekend, as the Lady Blue Knights play Concord Friday afternoon before traveling to West Liberty.
After the upcoming matchups, WLU will have eight games remaining, five of which are at home.
For live updates during this weekend’s game against Notre Dame, please visit hilltoppersports.com. Also, make sure to come out and support your Lady Toppers at 4 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 24, for their home game against Urbana.
Photo credit: Hilltoppersports.com
