ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Gator women's soccer team was held to just three shots, as they fell 2-0 to Rochester Institute of Technology in the opening match of the Rachel Miller Memorial Tournament.
The loss drops Allegheny to 0-2 on the young season, while R.I.T. moves to 1-0-1.
The Tigers tested Gator freshman keeper
Christina Gallagher from the start, putting forth four shots and one corner kick in the first five minutes of the opening half. The Gator defense stood firrm after the opening charge, with Gallagher keeping it a scoreless game after making three quick saves.
Play then evened out, with the bulk of the final 35 minutes of the half played in the middle third of the field. Though the Gators were held without a shot over the duration of the first half, Allegheny surrendered just two R.I.T. attempts over the final 20 minutes of the half, as the game entered halftime scoreless.
The Tigers wasted little time in the second half to record the game's first goal, as Anka Parzych flicked home a one-timer from the doorstep to make it 1-0 just four minutes into the half.
Over the next 20 minutes, the Gators saw their scoring chances grow, taking two corners and three shots, but were unable to find the equalizer. The Tigers would add an equalizer in the 70th minute, on an unassisted tally by Emily Thiel. The deficit proved too much to overcome for the Gators, as the Tigers continued to play stifling defense through the duration of the second half, allowing just three shots over the final 45 minutes.
Gallagher, in her collegiate debut, finished with four saves, as the Tigers owned a 17-3 advantage in shots for the game.
Colleen Fleming,
Hannah Eisemann, and
Liana Leja were credited with Allegheny's three shots.
The Gators will look for their first win of the season on Sunday, as they travel to Nazareth, ranked 16th in the preseason NSCAA Top-25 Coaches Poll, for a 2 p.m. contest.
