MEADVILLE, Pa. - Freshman
Sarah Donohue's first career goal, with just over 30 minutes remaining in regulation, lifted the Gators to a 1-0 win over Grove City in their 2014 home opener at the Robertson Athletic Complex
The Gators (4-2), who pushed their winning streak to four games, out-shot the Wolverines (1-3) 24-8 for the game, including a 14-5 margin in the second half, while the hosts owned a 6-1 edge in corner kicks for the game. Allegheny senior
Gabby Curtis recorded two saves in goal to earn her third shutout victory of the year.
Allegheny looked to take control early on in the first half, posting five shots in a four-minute span beginning in the eighth minute, but Grove City keeper Kristi Lathrop made a pair of saves to keep the game scoreless. The Gators continued to push, recording two more shots and a pair of corner kicks between the 20th and 24th minutes, but again were kept off the board.
Curtis was forced to make her first save of the game in the 26th minute, but it was the final time she was tested for the first half. The Gators had a pair of shots blocked in the final 10 minutes of the half, and the game stayed scoreless at the intermission.
Grove City tallied the first two shots of the second half, but then the Gators regained control. After a corner kick in the 51st minute, Allegheny maintained possession for the next several minutes. In the 59th minute, Wallace gathered a ball at midfield, and found Donohue on the sideline. The freshman raced past a series of defenders to come in all alone on Lathrop, and sent a shot past the diving keeper and into the net for the 1-0 lead.
The hosts continued to press, with four shots and a corner kick over the next five minutes, but were unable to add the insurance marker. Grove City put together a final push over the last five minutes, but the Allegheny defense held strong to preserve the shutout victory.
Eight different players were credited with at least one shot on the afternoon, led by six from
Tori Delzer and four by Wallace. Megan Van Kirk led the Wolverines with three shots, while Lathrop finished with seven saves in goal.
The Gators will return to action on Sat. Sept. 13, putting their four-game winning streak to the test with a 2 p.m. contest against visiting Mount Union at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
