ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Host Rochester Institute of Technology spoiled the Gators 2017 opener, topping Allegheny 3-0 in the opening match of the Rachel Miller Memorial Tournament.

Allegheny rookie keeper Maya Hackman was strong in her debut, making nine saves, but the Tigers showcased a relentless offensive match, controlling possession for the duration en-route to an 18-2 margin in shots.  

Hackman helped the Gators keep the Tigers at bay for much of the opening stanza, as she tallied five saves in the first 30 minutes of play.  Allegheny's best chance over the span came in the 28th minute, when Blair Proteau's shot was saved out of bounds, but the Gators were unable to convert on the corner kick and the match remained scoreless.  The Tigers would get on the board with just over seven minutes left in the opening frame, when Marla Roberts knocked home a corner kick from Emily Thiel for the first goal of the match.

Less than a minute after Roberts' tally, the Tigers had another chance, but Hackman turned it aside. On the ensuing transition, the Gators' Kelli Gaus had an attempt of her own, but the shot went wide and the score remained 1-0 at the break. 

The hosts continued to apply pressure in the opening stages of the second half, with three shots and a corner kick over the first eight minutes, but were unable to add an insurance marker until the 58th minute, when Elena Wolfe scored off of a long throw-in to make it 2-0.   Ten minutes later, R.I.T. would score their final marker of the day, when Mia White knocked in a loose ball from the doorstep to make it 3-0.

R.I.T. was able to maintain possession for much of the remainder of the match and prevented any Allegheny rally to coast down the stretch and earn the season-opening victory.

The Gators (0-1) will now have a quick turnaround, as they are slated to close out the Rachel Miller Memorial Tournament on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Nazareth College, ranked 24th in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.  The Golden Flyers defeated SUNY-Oneonta 2-1 in Friday's other tournament match.