FREDONIA, N.Y. – Shannon McGuinn's team-leading fifth goal of the season proved to be the game-winner, as Allegheny blanked Fredonia 1-0 under the lights in southwestern New York.
With just over 16 minutes left in the first half, McGuinn connected what would prove to be her fourth game-winner of the season, as the defense held the Blue Devils at bay for the rest of the match.
Making her first career start in goal, Gator freshman
Alexis Brandon finished with four saves to earn her first career shutout.
Each team was credited with 16 shots for the match, but the Gators had the better of the scoring chances, with eight shots on goal to the Blue Devils' four. Fredonia finished with a 3-1 margin in corner kicks, with two in the first half.
The Gators had the better of the play early, racking five shots in the first 13 minutes, including four from Donohue. Fredonia countered, posting two corner kicks, and their first shot of the game, between the 17
th and 20
th minutes, but were unable to take the early lead.
After Donohue's early flurry, the Gators managed just two shots over the duration of the half, one of which being McGuinn's scoring strike in the 29
th minute. Similarly, Fredonia managed just two shots over the final 24 minutes of the half, both going wide.
Allegheny came out strong in the second half, forcing Fredonia keeper Marissa Quimby to make three saves in the first three minutes of the frame to keep the deficit at one. The Blue Devils would then counter, with Brandon making a pair of stops in the 50
th and 54
th minute, before the tide would swing back to the Gators. In the 61
st minute, Quimby stopped shots from Martinez and Donohue seven seconds apart. The second save led to another Gator corner kick, and would generate two more scoring chances, but the Gators could not bury an insurance goal.
Over the final 10 minutes of regulation, the Blue Devils upped the offensive pressure and racked five shots, but two rang off the crossbar, and another was saved by Brandon, as the Gators preserved the shutout victory.
Allegheny will now have a week respite before returning to action on Tuesday, Oct. 3, when they host Buffalo State at the Robertson Athletic Complex beginning at 4 p.m.
