ERIE, Pa. -- Allegheny women's soccer returned to the pitch as it opened the 2021 campaign with a 3-0 defeat on the road at Penn State Behrend.

Behrend got on the board just before halftime with a goal in the 40th minute, and added to its lead less than three minutes into the second half. They set the final margin with a score that came in the 90th minute.

For the Gators, rookie Emma Miller (Elyria, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy) notched two of the team's five shots, with both landing on cage. A trio added one shot apiece, as fellow newcomer Hallie Johnson (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy) put her shot on target and Maddy Hill (Volant, Pa./Wilmington) and Lilly Noel (Shepherdstown, W. Va./St. James) each recorded shots of their own.

Gabby Culotta (Willoughby, Ohio/Andrews Osborne Academy) earned the start between the pipes in her first soccer outing after three years with the women's basketball team and made three saves and allowed one goal in the first 45 minutes. Kari May (Erie, Pa./McDowell) patrolled the goal line in the second half and made one save.

Allegheny will continue nonconference action on Saturday, Sept. 4 when it travels to Grove City for a 1 p.m. match.