Box Score PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After an evenly played and scoreless first half, #18 Wheaton scored three goals in the final 30 minutes of regulation to defeat Allegheny 3-0 in the opening match of the Carnegie Mellon Tartan Cup.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Gators to open up the 2015 campaign, while Wheaton improves to 3-1.
In the first half, time of possession was relatively even between the two squads, but a tough Thunder defense was able to limit the Gator scoring chances, continually keeping them at bay from entering the 18-yard box. Though they managed two corner kicks, the Gators were out-shot 6-1 by the Thunder in the opening 45 minutes. Three of Wheaton's six shots in the half were on target, and all were turned aside by Allegheny sophomore keeper
Tara Lynch.
In the second half, Wheaton began to ramp up its offensive pressure, and maintained possession from the start. Over the first five minutes of the frame, the Thunder nearly matched their offensive output from the first half, as they racked four shots, including one in the 47th minute that got around Lynch but was knocked away by a Gator defender.
The Gator defense continued to thwart the Wheaton attack, but the Thunder finally broke through in the 58th minute. Taking a free kick in prime territory following a Gator foul, Wheaton had three cracks to score in a 20-second span. After another Gator defensive save, a blast from in front hit the post, with the rebound caroming to Madison Peebles, who directed the rebound into the net to make it 1-0.
Wheaton continued to press, posting five shots between the 64th and 73rd minutes, before doubling their lead when Chelsea Gnan scored from six yards out after a failed clearing attempt in front by the Gator defense.
Kristin Rauh scored the Thunder's final goal in the 88th minute, when she got past the defense and shot to the lower corner of the net to close out the game's scoring.
For the game, Wheaton owned a 21-1 advantage in shots, including a 15-0 margin in the second half. Lynch made five saves in goal for the Gators.
Allegheny will face a quick turnaround, as the Gators return to action on Saturday with an 11 a.m. tilt against Ohio Northern to close out the CMU tourney.
