DELAWARE, Ohio - Allegheny was unable to come back from an early two-goal deficit, as the Gators fell 3-1 to North Coast Athletic Conference foe Ohio Wesleyan.

Despite owning advantages in both shots and corner kicks, the Gators (4-7, 1-1 NCAC) could not overcome a pair of goals scored in the first 22 minutes of play by Ohio Wesleyan (6-3-2, 1-1-1 NCAC). 

The Battling Bishops held an advantage in possession early on, forcing Allegheny keeper Maya Hackman to record her first save on a strong scoring chance just 54 seconds into the first half.  The hosts would then garner the game's first corner kick 4:45 into play, but the Allegheny defense withstood the chance to keep the match scoreless.

Ohio Wesleyan would break through with the game's first goal at the 13-minute mark, as Brooke Zinader scored from inside the box off of an assist from Emma Felty.

The Gators' best early scoring chance came off of their first corner kick of the match in the 21st minute, but Kelli Gaus' redirect was stopped.  The save on Gaus' attempt led to a second corner, but Allegheny couldn't cash in, and OWU went back on the attack.  Less than a minute after the Allegheny corner, the Battling Bishops went up 2-0 on a goal from Felty.

Allegheny would record three of the final four shots of the half, but Battling Bishop keeper Emma Hall made saves on attempts from Sarah Donohue and Maddy McClinchie over the final 10 minutes of the half to keep the score 2-0 at the intermission.

The Gators controlled possession in the early stages of the second half, receiving a pair of scoring chances in the 55th minute, as a shot from Shannon McGuinn went just high, before Taylor Renk was saved by Hall from 10 yards out.  Ohio Wesleyan countered with a lengthy possession of its own, which would result in their first corner kick of the half at the 58-minute mark.  The Bishops cashed in on the set piece, as Ashley Smiley knocked home the deflected corner through traffic to push the lead to 3-0.

Following the OWU goal, the Gators went on the attack.  In the 62nd minute, a Renk shot off of Allegheny's first corner of the half was blocked, but just 90 seconds later, the Gators were again granted a corner, and this time they cashed in.  Taking the corner, Isabella Martinez sent the ball into traffic deep inside the box, where it met the head of a leaping Blair Proteau, who was able to sent it home for her first career goal and cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Gators would keep up the offensive pressure over the next several minutes, as they had two corners and four shots between the 68th and 73rd minutes.  Ohio Wesleyan's defense prevented Allegheny from cashing in, however, as two of the shots were blocked, and a third saved by Hall.  Allegheny would go on to put forth three more shots over the final 10 minutes of play, but came up empty each time, and the Battling Bishops held off the comeback attempt.

For the game, Allegheny out-shot Ohio Wesleyan 15-13, including an 11-7 margin in the second half.  The Gators also took seven corner kicks to the Battling Bishops' four.

Renk led Allegheny with four shots, including two on goal, while Donohue, McGuinn, and Martinez each totaling two shots.  Hackman made five saves in goal for the Gators, while Hall stopped six shots to earn the win.

The Gators will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 10, hosting NCAC foe Hiram at the Robertson Athletic Complex at 4 p.m.