GROVE CITY, Pa. - Senior
Niki Augustine's goal in the game's 21st minute proved to be the difference, as the Gators earned a 1-0 victory at Grove City College.
Allegheny's defense made Augustine's goal stand up, as sophomore
Tara Lynch recorded four saves in goal for her second collegiate shutout victory.
With the win, the Gators move to 1-5 on the season, while Grove CIty drops to 3-2-1.
Grove City came out on the attack in the first half, posting four shots in the game's first 11 minutes, but Lynch made a pair of saves early to keep the game scoreless.
Following an Allegheny corner kick in the 16th minute, the Gators maintained possession, leading to Augustine's eventual game-winning strike. The senior picked up a carom off of a Wolverine defender in the right side of the box and scored her seventh career goal, and first of the season, to put the Gators up 1-0 with 24:29 left in the first half.
After the Augustine goal, Grove City looked to counter, but sent a pair of shots off the mark in the 25th minute. Play was back-and-forth over the remainder of the half, with the Gators' second shot on goal, from
Isabella Martinez with eight minutes left, proving to be the final attempt on net for either side, and the Gator held the one-goal halftime lead.
Over the opening 45 minutes, the Allegheny defense held strong as the Wolverines held a decided edge in scoring chances, with the hosts owning a 9-3 advantage in shots, and a 3-1 margin in corner kicks.
The Gators looked to add an equalizer early on in the second frame, but
Sarah Donohue's shot off of a corner kick from
Lauren Miller was saved by Wolverine keeper Nicole Lapia four minutes in and the Allegheny lead remained one. The middle stages of the second half proved to be a defensive struggle, as each team managed just one shot on goal between the 59th and 83rd minutes.
Looking to put together a late rally, the Wolverines would post the final two shots of the game, with an attempt in the 85th minute going wide left, before Lynch preserved the shutout victory with her fourth and final save with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.
Grove City owned a 5-2 advantage in shots over the second half, but the Wolverines put just two on net, both turned away by Lynch. The Gators took the only two corners of the second frame, as each side finished with three corners apiece for the afternoon.
The Gators return to action on Saturday, traveling to New York to take on Oneotnta in a 1 p.m. non-conference battle. Allegheny will be looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Dragons on Sept. 20 of last season in Meadville.
