UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Allegheny women's soccer team's two-game winning streak came to a halt, as host John Carroll dealt the Gators a 3-1 defeat under the lights at Don Shula Stadium.
John Carroll (2-3-1) received all three of its goals from Bailey Fischer, while the Blue Streak defense allowed just four Allegheny (2-3) shots, and kept the Gators off the board until the 85th minute, when rookie
Emily Orr tallied her second of the season.
The Blue Streaks were on the attack for most of the game, ending with an 18-4 advantage in shots, and a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.
Gator keeper
Maya Hackman, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, was busy once again in the cage, as she finished with nine saves.
Allegheny had the first prime scoring chance of the night, as in the seventh minute,
Taylor Renk picked the pocket of a Blue Streak defender en-route to a breakaway. However, her blast from 10 yards out was smothered by JCU keeper Danielle DelGiudice to keep the game scoreless.
The hosts then went on the attack, maintaining a number of lengthy possessions on their offensive end of the field. In the 13th minute, Hackman dove to her right to knock away a Blue Streak shot from 10 yards out, while eight minutes later, she leaped to make another save on a high attempt from 15 yards out.
The Blue Streaks would break through with just over 14 minutes left in the first half with a goal scored in transition, as Fischer took a through ball, split the last line of Gator defense, and sent a shot past a diving Hackman to make the score 1-0.
Moments after the first goal, Hackman made another diving stop to her right on a shot from 20 yards out to keep the deficit at one.
In the closing minute of the first half, the Blue Streaks added some insurance when Fischer scored her second tally in similar fashion as her first, as she took a lead pass in transition and directed it past Hackman from right in front to make it 2-0.
John Carroll out-shot Allegheny 11-1 in the opening 45 minutes, with Hackman turning in four saves.
The Blue Streaks maintained the pressure to open the second half, posting five shots in the first eight minutes, with Hackman making three more saves.
With 26:05 left, Fischer would complete the hat trick, as she unleashed a quick. turning shot from 20 yards out into the upper corner to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
After Hackman made another save on a point-blank shot with just inside 20 minutes left, the Gator offense would up its pressure, and controlled possession for a number of lengthy stretches. However, the Blue Streak defense was up to the task, and continued to prevent any substantial Allegheny scoring chances.
The Gators finally capitalized on its offensive pressure with 6:50 left to play. Following a long possession deep inside JCU territory, Orr picked the pocket of a Blue Streak defender on a clearing attempt in the corner. The Allegheny first-year quickly stopped, turned, and chipped a high shot from just in front of the corner marker, perfectly lofting it over DelGuidice and into the net for her second career goal.
Allegheny was able to maintain possession for most of the final six minutes of play, but managed just one shot, another effort from Orr that was snuffed out by DelGuidice.
The Gators will now return home for their next match, hosting Juniata College for a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
