MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Allegheny men's soccer team saw its three-game winning streak snapped, falling 2-1 in a physical Senior Day battle with Wittenberg at a frigid Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

The match was evenly-played throughout, and after Wittenberg (7-10-1, 2-7 NCAC),  scored the eventual game-winner on an own goal in the 67th minute, the Gators (7-9-2, 3-5-1 NCAC) were unable to cash in on a late flurry.

Wittenberg took an early 1-0 lead just six minutes into play, as Alexandre Veuthey scored on the first shot of the game, sending a blast from 20 yards out just past the fingertips of diving Gator keeper Jake Pugliese.

Allegheny quickly countered to steal the momentum.  In the 12th minute, the Gators looked to be on the verge of tying it, but Cameron Olson's header off of a perfect corner from Axel Monzon was stopped at point-blank range.   The hosts were able to hold onto possession over the next several minutes, however, and tied the score at 1-all at the 17:11 mark.  After a long throw in, Stefano Wach quickly touched a pass to Bryce Evans at the top of the box, and the freshman blasted it home for his first career goal (pictured left).

The Tigers looked to answer right back, and had a number of scoring chances over the final 20 minutes of the half, posting four corner kicks and seven shots over the span.  However, the Gator defense held strong, led by goalkeeper Jake Pugliese, who made a trio of impressive saves to keep the game tied at the intermission.  The Tigers ended the first half with an 8-4 advantage in shots.

The Gators were strong coming out of halftime, posting four shots in the first six minutes of the second frame, but were unable to take the lead.  Allegheny continued to press offensively, and had a prime scoring chance with just over 27 minutes left, but Tolossa Hassan was robbed by Tiger keeper James Van Artsdalen.

With 23:43 left in play, Wittenberg took a 2-1 lead when a long shot attempt took a fortuitous bounce off the foot of a Gator defender and into the goal.

The Gators would continue to put together a number of scoring chances over the next several minutes.  With 18 minutes left, Monzon sent another perfect corner kick toward the doorstep, but the leaping header was snared at point-blank range by Van Artsden.  Five minutes later, Van Artsden made another big save on a low rocket from Olson from 15 yards out.  

The majority of the final 10 minutes of play were contested in the middle third of the field, with the Gators' final scoring chance coming in the 85th minute, on a blast by Izaak Miller that sailed just high.

The game's final statistics were relatively even, as both teams finished with six corner kicks, and Wittenberg ended with a slim 13-12 advantage in shots.  Pugliese finished the afternoon with six saves in a game that was physical from the start, with the teams combining for 21 fouls and four yellow cards.

Prior to the match, the Gators' seven seniors, including Olson, Wach, Monzon, Thomas Richter, Daniel Szekely, Erik Donatelli, and Alejandro Weil, were honored for their four-year careers in the Blue and Gold.  The seven-man class helped the Gators to a 38-27-7 overall record over the past four years, and combined for 146 starts, 25 goals, and 20 assists.