MEADVILLE, Pa. - Visiting Hiram scored two goals in the final 17 minutes of regulation to come back for a 2-1 victory over the Gators in North Coast Athletic Conference action at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
An early goal in the 12th minute by
Niki Augustine gave the Gators (3-10-2, 1-2-2 NCAC) a one-goal lead that they would hold for 61 minutes of play, before the Terriers (5-10, 1-4 NCAC) struck twice in a seven-minute span late in the second half to stun the hosts and earn the win.
After trading possession in the middle third of the field for the first eight minutes of play, the Gator offense quickly wrested control. The team posted three shots in a two-minute span, with the third, an attempt from up close by
Hannah Smith, blocked over the end line to set up a corner kick.
Lauren Miller's corner was sent into traffic in the middle of the box, and the Gators'
Hannah Zangara intercepted a Hiram clearing attempt. Zangara quickly touched it to Augustine, who took quick step through traffic before sending a blast to goal, which deflected off of a diving Terrier keeper Kaillie Reed and into the net for the senior's third goal of the season to give the hosts a 1-0 lead 12:30 into play.
The Terriers then controlled possession for the next seven minutes, gaining three corner kicks, but the Gator defense prevented any close looks, as Hiram's first two shots of the game came from long distance and sailed well wide of the mark.
During a seven-minute span in the middle stages of the half, the Gators looked primed for an insurance tally, posting four shots between the 27th and 34th minutes, but three sailed just wide and another was blocked, keeping the lead at one-goal.
The Terriers' had the half's final scoring chance with 90 seconds left, when a shot was ripped by Abbey Rowe from 25-yards out, but it clanged off the crossbar and into the arms of Gator keeper
Christina Gallagher.
Hiram looked to take control from the start of the second half, putting forth three shots in the first five minutes, but the Gator defense stood firm to maintain the one-goal lead, as Gallagher turned in her first two saves of the afternoon. The Terriers continued to own the advantage in possession as the half continued, and saw their pressure pay off on their fourth corner kick of the half, as Emily Syrjala lofted the corner into the box to Katelyn Mauch, who out-leapt everyone to send home a leaping header and tie the game at 1-all.
After a shot from Zangara was saved 45 seconds after Hiram's equalizer, the Terriers again went on the attack, and enjoyed another sustained possession. With 11:30 remaining, Allegheny was whistled for a foul just outside of the box, and Hiram set up the free kick, which was blasted by Zemanski through the wall of Gator defenders and into the net to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The one-goal lead would stand for the rest of the way, as the Terrier defense packed it in to thwart an Allegheny comeback attempt.
Over the decisive second half, the Terriers out-shot the Gators 7-1 to finish with a 13-11 edge in shots for the game, while Hiram also owned a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks. Zangara took a team-high three shots for the Gators, while Augustine,
Colleen Fleming, and
Olivia Cushman finished with two apiece. Gallagher went the distance in goal and made four saves.
Allegheny will look to bounce back from the loss on Saturday, Oct. 24th, as it plays host to Kenyon in a rematch of the 2014 NCAC championship match. Gametime is slated for 1 p.m. at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
