HUNTINGDON, Pa. - A goal in the 74th minute proved to be the difference maker, as host Juniata defeated the Gators 1-0 in non-conference action. 

In a defensive struggle that saw the two teams combine for just 15 shots and three corner kicks, Juniata's Aubrie Christensen broke the scoreless tie with just over 16 minutes left in regulation, and the Gators were unable to counter.

The final statistics were nearly even, with Juniata holding an 8-7 edge in shots, while the Gators posted five shots on goals to the Eagles' four.

Allegheny needed just 64 seconds to see its first scoring chance of the day, but a shot from Shannon McGuinn was saved by Juniata keeper Kerry Leonard.  The Gators continued to hold a slight edge in possession over the first half of the opening stanza, as Sarah Donohue had a pair of attempts two minutes apart, but Leonard turned aside her shot in the 21st minute, while Donohue's blast in the 25th went wide.

After Allegheny's Maya Hackman made her first save in goal in the 26th minute, the Gators looked to respond, but a shot in the 28th minute in close by Kelli Gaus was blocked, before Taylor Renk's effort 40 seconds later was stopped by Leonard.

The hosts had the final three scoring chacnes of the first half, but came up empty on a corner kick in the 30th minute, and on a pair of shots in the final two minutes of the half. The Gators ended the half with a 5-4 margin in shots.

The opening stages of the second half were also mainly a defensive stalemate, with the squads combining for just three shots in the first 18 minutes.  Juniata then pressed the attack in the 68th minute.  Following a blocked shot in tight, the Gator defense successfully repelled a Juniata corner kick, but the Eagles kept possession and cashed in with just over 16 minutes left on Christensen's goal, assisted by Meadow Walshaw-Wertz.

With exactly 10 minutes to play, a shot from Allegheny's Adele Gilman was saved by Leonard, and it proved to be the final real scoring chance of the match for either team, as Juniata held off the Gators over the final stretch to seal the home win.

Six players accounted for Allegheny's seven shots, led by two attempts from Donohue.  Hackman ended the day with three saves in goal.

The Gators (2-4) will return to action with a non-conference tilt against Carnegie Mellon on Wed. Sept. 20, beginning at 7 p.m. in Pittsburgh.