OBERLIN, Ohio -- Notre Dame defeated the Yeomen of Oberlin College 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday evening at Fred Shults Field. (Box)

Christian Earnest tallied first for the Falcons as he netted his team leading seventh goal of the season -- in 56^th minute, Tom Owens added his second goal of the season on a penalty kick -- in the 64^th minute, and Erik Beattie scored his team leading seventh goal of the season -- in the 93^rd minute, while Jan Skorupinski registered one save in the win.

Oberlin (4-6-0) came out and put Notre Dame (9-0-0) to the test early as they pushed themselves to a 2-0 halftime advantage, but the Falcons would respond with veteran leadership scoring three unanswered goals in the second half and overtime to run their regular season unbeaten streak to 27 consecutive matches.
 
"We got overrun in the midfield for the first time this season,” noted Head Coach Michael “Mac” McBride. “Second half we won the midfield back; but we still didn't finish the chances we created. We are definitely exhibiting profligacy in front of the goal. We've got to change that.”
 
The opening period proved to be a challenging one for Notre Dame. Despite outshooting the host Yeomen 9-to-6 the Falcons found themselves trailing 2-0 at the break.
 
Shahab Razza found the back of the net opening the scoring in the 15^th minute when Owen Miller-Farrell's corner was misplayed in the box by Skorupinski. That misplayed ball allowed Razza to poke the ball into the net giving the Yeomen a surprising lead in the 15^th minute.
 
Notre Dame and Skorupinski had not allowed a goal in nearly 391 minutes as they were coming into the game ridding a four game shutout streak after allowing a goal in the 74^th minute to Aldo Torres of Georgetown (Ky.), Sept. 10.
 
The Yeomen were not finished in their attempt to spoil the Falcons record, 26 consecutive regular season unbeaten streak that dates back to Oct. 27, 2009.
 
Oberlin would make it a 2-0 game in the 38^th minute when Matt Capozi chipped a shot from nearly 30 yards over Skorupinski's head rippling the onion bag.
 
“Really pleased with how the team reacted to an adjustment we made for the second half,” Associate Head Coach Carl Nolan said.
 
Those adjustments paid off when Carlo Manna beat two players on the right wing before bending a ball to the penalty mark. Christian Earnest rose well bagging his seventh goal of the season at the 55:05 mark.
 
The Blue & White poured on the second half pressure outshooting Oberlin 12-to-2 in the second half.
 
After Tom Owens struck a shot wide in the 62^nd minute, Earnest a junior from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, created the Falcons next chance.
 
The 6-foot utility man beat his defender on the edge of the penalty area before being brought down earning Notre Dame a penalty kick.
 
Owens a sophomore from Liverpool, England, would stand over the ball with a chance to draw the game level from the penalty mark.
 
The 6-foot midfielder coolly smashed the ball to the left of Sundby to level the score 2-2 at the 63:33 mark.
 
“The team certainty reacted to a position that they put themselves in,” Nolan said. “That resiliency and that positive attitude were certainly taken into overtime. “
 
Following the game-tying score, the Falcons used the momentum to create some potential game-winning scoring opportunities in regulation, but Sundby made two of his six saves in the down the stretch to force extra time.
 
“When it went to overtime, I was as comfortable as you can be,” stated McBride. “They've got bite about them, these lads. And they just don't want to lose.” Mac
 
That bite would come courtesy of Erik Beattie's left foot strike. The junior from Madison, Ohio, pushed the ball past two Yeomen defenders before burring his left-footed strike from distance. The utility man smashed the ball past Oberlin netminder Chris Sundby into the roof of the net for his fourth game winning goal of the season.
 
Senior goalkeeper Alex Klein, senior captain Dan Knight, and redshirt junior Erik Beattie have helped the Blue & White to a 5-0-2 record in overtime games through their four seasons. The last time the Falcons have lost an overtime match came Sept. 25, 2007, when NDC dropped a 1-0 decision to Mount Vernon Nazarene.
 
“We just have to keep protecting our unbeaten run and just keep it going,” Nolan said. “That's one of our aims this season.”

The win improved the Falcons to a perfect 9-0-0 while the loss dropped the Yeomen to 4-6-0 snapping Oberlin's two game winning streak.

Riding their nine-game winning streak, the Falcons host Marygrove (Mich.), on Saturday, Oct. 1, for a 7 p.m. kickoff. This will be the concluding game at Korb Field for the college's homecoming that begins with football vs. Central State at 1 p.m., followed by women's soccer vs. Lindenwood (Mo.) at 5 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST….
 
ONE TO ONE FIFTY: Coach Michael “Mac” McBride led his inaugural squad into action Sept. 4, 2001 against Tiffin. Three days later the Birmingham, England, directed his squad to the programs first win, 3-0 at Shawnee State University on Sept. 7, 2001. 216 games later McBride's squad defeated Oberlin 3-2 in dramatic overtime fashion giving the bench boss his 150^th career win. With a 150-52-15 record, his winning percentage (.726) is the highest among Notre Dame's 22 athletic programs.
 
FIRST TIME SHOTS: Oberlin marked the seventh of 11 first time opponents for the Falcons in 2011. Following today's, 3-2, OT win the Blue & White are 51-21-5, including 13 straight victories.
 
STREAKING FALCONS: Notre Dame has now scored in 72 consecutive games since being held scoreless on Sept. 12, 2008. During that stretch the Blue & White have won 88.2 percent (62-7-2) of their games. Over those 72 games Notre Dame has netted 269 goals while keeping their opponents scoreless in 31 matches.
 
REGULAR PERFECTION: The Falcons have not lost a regular season match since Oct. 27, 2009. During that stretch the Blue & White have won 27 straight regular season contests, including a perfect 17-0-0 in 2010. During that season Notre Dame finished with a 23-1-0 record as the NAIA National Championship Finalists.

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER: Through the last five seasons during the ninth month of the year, the Falcons have won 90.0 percent (36-4-0) of their games. All-time they are 60-23-4 (71.3 percent) in September.