SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame exploded for three goals in a six-minute span midway through the first half here Sunday and pulled away to a 7-0 victory against West Liberty in Mountain East Conference men's soccer action at Mueller Field.
    Coach Sean Regan's youthful Hilltoppers (1-7-1, 1-6-1) weathered an early storm from the host Falcons (6-2-1, 6-1-1) but a turnover deep in the WLU end set up an unassisted goal by Notre Dame's Niklas Bohlin in the 22^nd minutes and seemed to open the floodgates.
    Giulio Bellei hammered one home for the hosts from 25 yards out in the 26th minute and Arthur Favero nudged in a cross from Evans Armah 90 seconds later and the Falcons never looked back.
    Notre Dame outshot the Black and Gold by a 26-3 margin and forced 11 corners to one for the Hilltoppers. West Liberty keeper Jorn Hocter was credited with 8 saves on the day.
    The Hilltoppers return home on Wednesday to host Urbana in another MEC matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. under the lights at the West Family Athletic Complex.
      West Liberty                                            0  0 – 0
Notre Dame                                             3  4 – 7         NDC: Niklas Bohlin (unassisted), 21:09
        NDC: Giulio Bellei (unassisted), 25:55
        NDC: Arthur Favero (Evans Armah), 27:21         NDC: Arthur Favero (David Torrealba), 54:36
        NDC: Giulio Bellei (Arthur Favero, Jordan Lewis), 62:38
        NDC: Arthur Favero (Magnus Abels), 69:26
        NDC: Magnus Abels (Mitchell Carlton), 79:36         Shots: West Liberty 3, Notre Dame 26
        Saves: West Liberty 8 (Jorn Hocter 8), Notre Dame 1 (Daniele De Angelis 1)
        Corners: West Liberty 1, Notre Dame 11
A: 273