MEADVILLE, Pa. - Visiting DePauw University spoiled Senior Day at Robertson Field, and clinched the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season championship, with a 3-0 win over the Gaotrs.
The Tigers scored once in the latter stages of the first half, before adding two insurance goals midway through the second stanza, to finish the regular season with a 7-1 NCAC mark, and 10-6-1 overall record. The Gators end the season with a 4-12-2 record, and 2-4-2 in the NCAC.
DePauw pushed the play from the outset, putting forth three shots in the first nine minutes, with two going wide and one saved by Gator keeper
Christina Gallagher.
Niki Augustine recorded Allegheny's first attempt, a blast from distance that was blocked by a defender in the 22nd minute, before DePauw countered with four shots in a three-minute span. Gallagher posted another save, while the Gator defense blocked a pair of attempts, to keep the shutout in tact.
The Tigers took advantage of a fortunate bounce to score their first goal of the game. With just under 12 minutes left in the half, a crossing attempt deflected off of Gallagher in front, and bounced directly to DePauw's Abby Enright, who scored from five yards out to go in front 1-0, which is how the score would remain at halftime.
Over the opening 45 minutes, DePauw out-shot Allegheny 10-1, while also taking the half's lone corner kick.
Play was contested in the middle third of the field for the opening stages of the second half, before the Tigers added on to the lead with a goal in the 55th minute. Bridget Brendza sent a perfect cross across the goal mouth, where it was one-touched into the net by Stephanie Martin to make it 2-0.
The Gators then came alive, and saw a pair of scoring chances in a five-minute span midway through the half. In the 65th minute,
Lauren Miller sent a blast toward goal that clanged off the post, and the rebound attempt by
Brianna Layman went just inches over the crossbar. In the 70th minute, Augustine fielded the ball in traffic and sent a rocket to goal from less than 15 yards out, but DePauw keeper Riley Riordan was able to gobble it up.
The Tigers scored their final goal of the afternoon with with nine minutes left in regulation, when Brendza headed home a corner kick from Megann Lear.
Allegheny out-shot DePauw 7-3 over the second half, with the Tigers ending the game with a 13-8 advantage in the shot column. Augustine led the Gators with three attempts, while Miller had two.
It was the final game in the careers of five Gator seniors - Augustine, Miller, Layman,
Olivia Cushman, and
Hannah Zangara - who were honored in a pre-game ceremony on the field. The group accounted for 31 goals and 24 assists over the past four seasons, while leading the Gators to 39 wins, including 32 shutouts. The quintet helped the Gators win the 2013 NCAC championship, while reaching the NCAA Division-III National Tournament in both 2013 and '14.
