MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's soccer team dominated over the final 45 minutes of play, but was unable to overcome a Buffalo State goal midway through the first stanza, falling 1-0 to the visiting Bengals in non-conference action at the Robertson Athletic Complex.
In a tale of two halves, the Gators recovered from a sluggish opening frame to put forth their top offensive stanza of the season. However, the hosts were unable to score an equalizer, and were dealt the narrow one-goal loss to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule.
Buffalo State (8-3) was strong out of the gates, putting constant pressure on the Allegheny (2-8-1) defense from the opening whistle. Allegheny freshman keeper Christina Gallagher was tested early, making her first save of the game four minutes into play on a chance in front. The ensuing clearing attempt was picked up by Buffalo State just inside the center line, leading to another Bengal attack. After a crossing attempt was lofted into the box, Buffalo State's Breeana Knight sent a blast on from right in front, but Gator defender Brianna Layman jumped in front and cleared it away.
Over the next 10 minutes, the Bengals put forth four more shots, with Gallagher making a pair of saves. With just over 17 minutes left in the half, Knight skied a shot from 20 yards out, and it floated just inside the cross bar to put the visitors in front 1-0.
Following the Buffalo State goal, play would even out, with each team posting just one shot apiece over the final 15 minutes of the half, and the score remained 1-0 at the intermission.
Over the opening 45 minutes of play, the Bengals out-shot the Gators 12-2, while they owned a 2-0 edge in corner kicks. Gallagher kept the hosts in the game, making five first half saves.
After Buffalo State tallied the first shot of the second half eight minutes in, the tide would turn in favor of the Gators. The Allegheny back line prevented any substantial scoring efforts by the Bengal forwards, while the Gator midfield controlled possession for long stretches of time, repeatedly springing Gator forwards Isabella Martinez and Hannah Smith on runs down the sideline.
The long stretches of possession deep in Buffalo State territory also led to a number of corner kick opportunities for the Gators. In the 65th minute, a header by Smith off of a Lauren Miller corner sailed just high, while two minutes later, another blast off of a Miller corner, this time by Sarah Sherwood, was blocked a point-blank range in front.
With just over 11 minutes left in regulation, the Gators pressure resulted in three corner kicks in a 55-second span. Off the second corner, Olivia Cushman and Brianna Layman each had shots from 10 yards out blocked, before the subsequent corner was blown down after a Gator foul in front.
In the final minute of play, Gallagher made a big save on a breakaway, which led to the Gators' final offensive run. However, the hosts were only able to get off one shot, which sailed high, allowing the Bengals to escape Meadville with their seventh straight victory.
Allegheny doubled up the Bengals, 8-4, in shots over the second half, while the Gators also owned a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Gallagher was forced to make just one save while touching the ball only twice over the final 45 minutes, and she finished the contest with six stops. Seven different Gators were credited with at least one shot on the afternoon, led by three from Colleen Fleming and two by Martinez.
Allegheny will return to action on Saturday, October 10, hosting undefeated and North Coast Athletic Conference-leading Denison at 12 p.m. at the Robertson Athletic Complex. The noon contest is a rematch of the 2014 NCAC semifinal contest, won 4-1 by Allegheny.
