MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Allegheny women's soccer team earned its first North Coast Athletic Conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion, topping Oberlin 1-0 in double overtime under the lights at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

Senior Jessie Thiessen scored her seventh goal of the season - and fourth game-winner - two minutes into the second extra session, as the Gators snapped a three-game losing skid.  

In a back-and-forth defensive battle, the Gators held an advantage in possession for most of the game, finishing with a slim 13-12 edge in shots.  Colleen Fleming earned her second shutout win of the season in goal, playing all 102 minutes and finishing with five saves, while intercepting a number of Oberlin crossing attempts in close.

After the two squads battled evenly for 100 minutes, Oberlin started the second overtime with possession, and advanced it into the offensive third. Fleming cut off a crossing pass down low, and sent a punt toward midfield.  Allegheny continued to progress the ball upfield, and a minute into the second OT, after Thiessen dribbled around a defender after receiving a pass in the box from Kayla Dantona, the senior had a shot deflected away and over the end line, setting up Allegheny's fourth corner kick of the evening.

Kayla Redner lofted the corner kick into the box, where it was deflected away.  After a pair of high bounces off the artificial turf, the ball ended up again at the foot of Thiessen, who cut into the goal all alone and sent a shot just inside the far left post for the game-winner from 10 yards out.  It marked her fourth game-winning goal of the season, and second double-overtime score, after helping the Gators to a 3-2 win in 106 minutes at Pitt-Bradford on Sept. 17.  The senior has now either scored or assisted on each of Allegheny's last 10 goals.

In the early stages of the over two hour-long match, it appeared as if overtime wouldn't be necessary, as the Gators had a number of scoring chances during the first half, tallying four shots and three corner kicks in the opening 19 minutes of play.  Oberlin keeper Jordyn Morris made a pair of saves early on to keep the game scoreless.  The tide then swung the way of the Yeowomen, who looked primed to score in the latter stages of the half, only to be thwarted by Fleming.  With just over seven minutes left in the half, she made perhaps her biggest play of the game, as she was able to leap and get her fingertips on a shot floated in from 20 yards out, and pounced on it before the Yeowomen got a rebound opportunity.   Fleming made another save on a longer attempt with 6:20 left in the half to keep the game scoreless at the intermission.

The Gators received their best scoring chance of the second half just three minutes in, as Dantona's one-touched blast from five yards out was saved by Morris.  Midway through the half, Hannah Eisemann had a clean break down the left flank, but was turned aside by another big save from Morris to keep the shutout in tact.   Allegheny's defense limited the Oberlin scoring threats over the second half, as the Yeowomen were held without a corner kick, and took just five shots, with only one finding its way to Fleming.

The first overtime session was contested primarily in the middle third of the field, as Oberlin received the only two shots, wtth one blocked and the second going wide.  The second Yeowomen effort with 10 seconds left in the first OT was blocked in front, and would up being the team's last scoring chance, before Thiessen's double-OT heroics.

Heading into the home stretch of the season, the Gators will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 12 p.m., playing host to NCAC foe Ohio Wesleyan on the Robertson Athletic Complex grass.  The team's penultimate home game of the regular season, the Gators will recognize their six seniors in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony.  Additionally, Oct. 15 marks #Battle4Bridget Day at the Robertson Athletic Complex, as funds will be collected throughout the day in support of Allegheny head volleyball coach Bridget Sheehan, who was forced to step away from her team this summer due to a battle with cancer.