URBANA, Ohio -- Notre Dame continued their 2011 season opening road trip with a 2-0 victory over Urbana at the Urbana University Stadium. The win improved NDC's record to 5-0-0, while UU fell to 1-3-0. (Box)

Junior utility man Erik Beattie tallied the game's opening goal -- his fifth of the season -- in the 62nd minute, while sophomore goalkeeper Jan Skorupinski registered four saves in earning his third clean sheet. 

"(We are) pleased with the result against the toughest opposition so far." Stated Associate Head Coach Carl Nolan. "We created a lot of chances, but we could have been much sharper in the box. Now we look forward to our home-opener."

The opening period saw end-to-end action as both teams pressed for the opening goal.

Urbana found the first chance just eight minutes into the match when Henrique Guitti's shot went begging.

The visitors would respond with Carlo Manna finding Christian Earnest inside the six yard box for a header in the 10th minute. The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, native sent the header wide of the target keeping the game scoreless.

Manna again found Earnest with another dangerous header in the 20th minute. Earnest could not get over on the ball and struck the ball over the bar.

The opening half would close with the score level, 0-0. Through the opening 45 minutes the Falcons peppered the Tigers goal outshooting the hosts 10-to-5 and held a 4-1 lead in corner kicks.

As the Blue & White poured on the pressure piling on 20 second half shots, the utility Madison, Ohio, native Erik Beattie made his 62nd minute left foot drive count. Junior forward Dean Miller got the play started when he found Beattie. The Falcons third year man put the finishing touch past Darragh McGinley for the second half lead.

Notre Dame began to control the match, they shut their hosts down through the final 45 minutes not allowing a shot.

With time winding down, Miller a first year man from Johannesburg, South Africa, followed up on his own shot beating McGinley to the right of the goal, for a 2-0 lead just over a minute from stoppage.


Notre Dame hosts Mountain State (W.Va.) Saturday, September 17, at 1 p.m. at Korb Field. 


NOTES FROM THE NEST….

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER: Through the last five seasons during the ninth month of the year, the Falcons have won 88.9 percent (32-4-0) of their games. All-time they are 56-23-4 (69.9 percent) in September.

DARK KNIGHT: In seven matches all-time, the Falcons hold a 6-0-1 all-time record against the Urbana Blue Knights. The first matchup between the previous American Mideast Conference rivals came in the Falcons inaugural season, 2001. In that match NDC defeated UU, 2-1. The loan draw came Aug. 30, 2004, at Urbana. The Blue Knights earned a hard fought, 3-3 2OT result.

NO SKOR: Jan Skorupinski notched his fifth career win and fourth career clean sheet in today's 2-0 win. The Vogt, Germany, native now ranks fifth in program history for shutouts (4), passing Shaun Able (2001).

STREAKING FALCONS: Notre Dame has now scored in 68 consecutive games since being held scoreless on Sept. 12, 2008. During that stretch the Blue & White have won 88.2 percent (59-7-2) of their games. Over those 67 games Notre Dame has netted 259 goals while keeping their opponents scoreless in 29 matches.

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