SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio — No. 20 West Virginia State's women's soccer team spent its first match as a nationally ranked team just south of Cleveland, Ohio and came away with the 1-0 victory against the Notre Dame College Falcons (4-4-3, 3-4-3 MEC) on Wednesday. State (12-0-1, 10-0-1 MEC) took 75 minutes to get on the scoreboard, but it was enough to secure the victory.

The Yellow Jackets took just 10 shots at the NDC goal, but were extremely accurate with the chances they had, putting six of those shots on goal. The Jackets did give up seven corner kick opportunities to the Falcons, but the Falcons couldn't capitalize on any of the set piece opportunities, with the Falcons only getting one shot off. The Falcons didn't get a single shot on goal in the match. All 10 of the Falcon's shots were off-target.

It was a defensive struggle for both teams in the first half. State only got three shots off toward target, and only two found the mark, both by Fran Sores-Cupertino. NDC goalie Jordan Pasalaqua was up the task though and made both saves. NDC only took two shots in the half, and both were off the mark. NDC didn't manage to get a shot off after the 12th minute. The two teams were level at nil each at the halftime whistle.

The second half began with a much higher offensive tempo for both teams with Ingrid Barbosa de Castro taking a shot almost immediately after the second half began, but again Pasalaqua was up to the challenge. State went on a 16 minute shoot drought, meanwhile NDC got three more shots at the State goal, none of which found Laura Galindo. 

In the 75th minute though, Alba Closa and Brooklyn Pritt found Sandra Linares on the backside of the goal and Linares snuck it past Pasalaqua to give the Jackets the one goal lead. Neither team got another shot off and State didn't give up another set-piece opportunity for the rest of the match.

Today's match was the first match all season that nation leading point scorer Soares-Cupertino didn't get a goal or an assist. She did get two of her three shots on target. Pritt took two shots and put one on target.

State comes home for a Saturday re-match against the Davis & Elkins Senators at Dickerson Stadium. State defeated the Senators on Sept. 15, 9-3 in Elkins. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.