GRANVILLE, Ohio – An early offensive barrage lifted host Denison over Allegheny 4-0 in both teams' 2018 North Coast Athletic Conference opener.

The Big Red (5-2, 1-0 NCAC) scored all four of their goals over the opening 29 minutes of play, and the Gators (4-4, 0-1 NCAC) were unable to recover.

Allegheny had the first scoring chance of the day, as Isabella Martinez's shot was saved a minute into play, but the tide would then turn in favor of the Big Red.

Just under five minutes into play, Allegheny's Maya Hackman made a remarkable save on a breakaway to keep the game scoreless, but the Big Red would find paydirt on their next chance, when Liz Gilbert scored on a blast from 15 yards out to make it 1-0 in the eighth minute.

Just 40 seconds later, the Big Red added on with a goal from Clair Kolff, before Hackman made another impressive one-handed save on a blast from In close.

After a pair of Denison corner kicks came up empty, the Gators had their first sustained offensive pressure of the afternoon, but Taylor Renk was stopped twice by Big Red keeper Patil Tcholakian in a 90-second span, first on a breakaway, and then on an attempt from 10 yards out.

Denison would add onto the lead at the 20-minute mark on a bomb from 30 yards out from Madison Smith. Hackman would then make two more saves in a three-minute span, before the Big Red connected for their fourth goal of the half on a strike from Abbey King with 15 minutes left until the intermission.

The hosts continued the offensive pressure, but were kept at bay, as Hackman made three more saves over the final 12 minutes and the score would remain 4-0 at the break.

Over the second half, the Big Red again held an edge in possession, but neither team would find the net. Denison took eight of the nine shots in the final frame, and had a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
Hackman ended the day with eight saves, as the Big Red finished with a 26-6 advantage in shots. Renk and Martinez each had two shots for the Gators.

Allegheny will return to action on Tues. Sept. 25, when they host Fredonia for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference match at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.