MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Gators wrapped up the regular season with their sixth consecutive shutout victory, topping North Coast Athletic Conference rival Wittenberg 2-0 on Senior Day at a frigid Robertson Athletic Complex.

Sophomore Jessie Thiessen scored both goals for Allegheny (14-5, 7-1), which clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAC Championship Tournament that gets underway this Wednesday.

The two squads used the opening 15 mintues of regulation as a feeling-out period, as both the Gators and Tigers had just one shot apiece over the span.   

Allegheny seized the momentum in the 21st minute.  After a corner kick, the Gators maintained possession, and with 23:49 left in the first half, Tori Delzer chipped an entry pass onto the doorstep, where it found the head of a leaping Thiessen, who directed it into the net for her seventh goal of the season.

Wittenberg put together an offensive flurry with just over 10 minutes left in the opening half, racking three shots in a two-minute span, but Gator keeper Gabby Curtis made a pair of saves to maintain the one-goal lead.  The Gators tallied the final three shots of the half, but two sailed wide and one was stopped by Wittenberg keeper Alexa Murrieta to keep the score at 1-0 as the game entered the intermission.

The Tigers surged out of the locker room, and owned the play in the opening stages of the second half, taking the first five shots and two corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes of the frame.  The visitors nearly tied it in the 60th minute, as a quick header off of a corner kick seemed destined for the goal, until a Gator defender knocked it astray just in front of the goal line.

Allegheny then regained the momentum.  After a Wittenberg foul, Lauren Miller narrowly missed the net on the ensuing free kick, blasting the ball off the post.  The Gators were able to maintain the possession, and Nikki Augustine sent a pass into the box, where Thiessen caught it in mid air and booted it home for her second tally of the game to give the hosts a 2-0 lead with 27:40 remaining.

The teams would trade chances down the stretch, with Curtis preserving the shutout with a big save in the 74th minute, and Thiessen narrowly missing the hat trick on a pair of opportunities late.  Over the final minutes, the Gators controlled possession to win their sixth straight.

Allegheny ended the day with a 13-10 advantage in shots, led by five from Thiessen and two by Miller.  Curtis finished with two saves for her conference-leading 11th shutout of the season.  Wittenberg (8-7-1, 4-4 NCAC) had a 5-2 edge in corners, with Murietta and Maggie Greiser splitting the time in goal and finishing with two saves apiece.

Prior to the game, the Gators' senior class, including Curtis, Delzer, Greta Hilbrands, Faith Robinson, and Jaymee Wallace, were honored for their four-year careers.  The group has combined to go 45-24-8 overall, and 21-7-4 in NCAC play.  In addition to their success on the field, they have also been stellar academically, combining for 12 Allegheny Alden Scholar honors, and helping the team earn National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Awards in all four years.

The Gators will now open up their quest for a second consecutive NCAC title on Wednesday afternoon, when they host No. 3 seed Denison at 2 p.m. in the conference semifinal round at the Robertson Athletic Complex.