SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Despite being more than tripled-up in shots, the Allegheny women's soccer team emerged from a key North Coast Athletic Conference match on the right side of a 3-1 score.
After Wittenberg (4-6-3, 3-3 NCAC) took an early lead midway through the first half, Allegheny (7-8, 4-2 NCAC) countered with three unanswered goals, including two in the final 18 minutes of regulation, to earn the win and take over second place in the conference standings.
The Tigers tested the Allegheny defense early on, as Gator keeper
Maya Hackman was forced to make three saves in the first 17 minutes of play. Wittenberg finally broke through for the game's first goal, scored by Jordyn Wright and assisted by Kaitlyn Krieg at the 21-minute mark.
After Hackman turned in her fourth save of the day in the 26th minute, the Gators seized the momentum in the closing stages of the half. With 10:40 left in the opening frame, the Gators were granted their second corner kick of the afternoon, and made good on the set piece.
Isabella Martinez lofted the kick toward the goal, where it was directed into the back of the net by
Blair Proteau to tie the game at 1-1. It marked Proteau's second goal of the season, while it increased Martinez's NCAC-leading assist total to eight.
The Gators would maintain possession for much of the remainder of the half, but were unable to take a lead before halftime, as it remained tied at the intermission.
As was the case in the first half, Wittenberg came out of halftime with momentum, posting four shots and taking four corner kicks in the first 15 minutes. The defense held, with Hackman turning in three more saves to keep the score deadlocked.
With just over 16 minutes left in regulation,
Hannah Smith broke the tie, scoring her third goal of the season, which would turn out to be the game-winner.
Over the final 10 minutes, Wittenberg again upped the offensive pressure, rattling off six shots between the 80th and 87th minutes, but two went wide, three were blocked by the Gator defense, and one rang off the crossbar.
The Gators would put an exclamation point on the win in the final minute, as
Shannon McGuinn scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season to give the Gators some insurance and seal the 3-1 victory.
Wittenberg ended the game with a 15-4 advantage in shots, while the Tigers took nine of the game's 12 corner kicks. Hackman totaled six saves to earn her sixth win of the season in goal.
Allegheny will now open the final week of the regular season with another pivotal battle, traveling to Wooster for a Tuesday matinee beginning at 4 p.m. The Fighting Scots sit in third place in the tight NCAC standings, two points behind the Gators.
