ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A strong start by host Nazareth proved too much to overcome for the Gators, as they fell 3-0 in the opening game of the 2014 season at the Rachel Miller Memorial Tournament.
The Golden Flyers (1-0) kept the Allegheny (0-1) offense in check for the afternoon, outshooting the Gators 16-8 while also holding a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The hosts wasted little time in getting on the board in the first half, as Brianna Vibbard put home a through ball from Michaela Soules just 2:54 into play. For the next 20 minutes, the game settled into a defensive standoff, with the teams combining for just two shots and one corner kick, before the Golden Flyers doubled their lead on a Danielle Wilkin goal directly off a corner kick with 19 minutes left in the opening stanza.
With Nazareth leading 2-0 to open up the second half, play evened out, as each team tallied four shots over the first 15 minutes of the final frame. The Gators withstood two corner kicks and three shots in the 68th minute, but the Golden Flyers added an insurance marker with 13:50 remaining, when Christine Belding sent home her own rebound from a shot off the post. The Gators managed the final corner kick and two shots of the game, but were unable to find the net.
Seven different players combined for the Gators' eight shots, with
Olivia Cushman finishing with two attempts.
Gabby Curtis played all 90 minutes in goal for Allegheny, totaling two saves.
The Gators will have a short turnaround, as they look to rebound from the season-opening defeat on Saturday when they take on Rochester Institute of Technology at 2 p.m.
