MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College women's soccer team kept its North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Kenyon College in a rematch of the 2014 NCAC Championship Game this afternoon from the Robertson Athletic Complex.
Senior
Olivia Cushman scored the match's only goal for Allegheny (4-9-2, 2-2-2 NCAC) in the 21st minute, when she tucked a shot inside the left post. The build-up was equally as impressive as the tally itself, as senior
Niki Augustine escaped the grasp of two defenders with a brilliant turn before chipping the ball up to classmate
Hannah Zangara. Zangara took a couple of touches and put in a cross from just outside the box, where it found Cushman on the bounce for her first goal of the season.
The Gators came out firing, holding a 4-1 shot advantage prior to Cushman's tally. Kenyon (10-6-1, 4-2-1 NCAC) was able to take control of the match after that, however, with a total of 15 shot attempts compared to Allegheny's seven.
Freshman
Christina Gallagher registered her second shutout in as many weekends with a five-save performance this afternoon. Gallagher made three saves in the first half and her final two in the 47th and 52nd minutes.
Allegheny had a great opportunity to double its lead in the 64th minute when senior
Lauren Miller was tackled outside of the box. Miller put in a rolling free kick that found classmate
Brianna Layman from 12 yards out, but her attempt was blocked. The Gators would keep possession however and create another chance shortly after, but an attempt by Augustine fell just wide.
Despite pressing for the equalizer all of the second half, Allegheny was able to withstand the potent Ladies' attack by not allowing a shot attempt over the last 17 minutes.
Allegheny returns to action on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 4:00 p.m. when it travels to Wooster.
