MEADVILLE, Pa. – Three assists from sophomore
Jessie Thiessen jump-started the 2014 Allegheny Homecoming celebration for the Gator women's soccer team, as Allegheny upended North Coast Athletic Conference opponent Ohio Wesleyan, 5-0, on Oct. 18 at Robertson Field.
The Allegheny women's soccer team celebrates with head coach Mike Webber after his
100th career victory.
Photo Credit: Copyright 2014 Cheryl Hatch All Rights ReservedSophomore
Liana Leja scored the Gators' first two goals, striking early in the first half for the Blue and Gold. In the second half, juniors
Hannah Zangara,
Lauren Miller and
Olivia Cushman scored within a five-minute span for the Gators in the second half, with Thiessen assisting on the final tally of the contest. Leja tacked on an assist on Zangara's game to finish her five-point afternoon for the Gators.
With the win, Allegheny head coach
Michael Webber earned his 100th career victory as head coach for the Gators, becoming the second in program history after John Wilcher accomplished the feat. Allegheny heads into the final two weeks of the season on a two-game winning streak, as the Gators have outscored their last two opponents, both NCAC opponents, 7-0.
Allegheny outshot Ohio Wesleyan, 26-4, earning a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks in the process. Senior goalkeeper
Gabby Curtis saved a pair of shots. Leja got the Gators on the board early, collecting a rebound off of the post by Thiessen in the fifth minute and dumping it into the empty net for the early, 1-0 lead. The sophomore would strike again in the 27th minute on an identical play, as Thiessen would bring the ball down the field, cross it into the box, where a waiting Leja placed the shot into the lower left 90 to give the Gators a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The Gators kept the pressure on the Battling Bishops in the second half, taking two shots on target in the 54th minute, before Zangara scored on a deflection off of Leja on a cross from Thiessen, finding the back of the net for her second goal of the season in the 63rd minute.
A minute later, Miller lined up for a free kick on the near sideline. The junior responded by launching a bending cross that landed in the back of the net to give Allegheny a 4-0 lead in the 64th. In the 67th, Cushman corralled a pass in the box from Thiessen, who converted the attempt to give the Gators a five-goal advantage and give Thiessen her third assist.
Allegheny will next travel to Hiram to take on the Terriers on Wednesday, Oct. 22 before taking the trip to Greencastle, Indiana to battle the DePauw Tigers on Oct. 25.
