MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny scored nine of the first 10 goals as the Gators improved to 4-0 on the season and gave first-year head coach Patty Pehnke her first win on the Robertson Blue Turf with a 14-4 nonconference victory over Thiel.

The 4-0 start to the 2022 campaign marks the best season-opening stretch for Allegheny women's lacrosse since 2014 when the Gators won 10-straight to begin the year en route to a program best 15-2 overall record.

Five different players scored for the Gators in the first quarter, which saw Allegheny jump out to a 6-1 lead. During the period, Emily Herrold (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) was the only member of the Blue & Gold to find the back of the net twice. Grace Baginski (Lakeville, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) registered two goals in the second quarter to give her a first-half hat trick, as a 3-0 frame allowed Allegheny to lead by a 9-1 margin at halftime.

Three goals by Senna Perelman (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) highlighted the scoring in the second half, which saw the Gators invoke the 10-goal running clock rule on two separate occasions. 

Perelman finished with a game-best five goals, giving the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Newcomer of the Year at least three goals in all four matches thus far this season. Baginski's three goals tied her for second on the team with Devin Gaffney (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy), who posted three assists. Herrold added two goals, with Liz Dolan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton) contributing two points via a goal and an assist. Rounding out the goal scorers with one apiece were: Maddie Miller (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), Jenna Cassani (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) and Lauren Petrarca (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal).

As a team, Allegheny boasted a 43-16 advantage on shots, a 22-13 margin on ground balls and won 15 of 22 draws. The Gators were also successful on 20-of-22 clear attempts.

Ashley Amato (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) picked up a career-best five ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers. Perelman and Raina Semenick (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) each collected four ground balls and forced two turnovers. Sybi Gerhart (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) tied for the game high with three caused turnovers. Perelman, Herrold and Amato recorded seven, four and three draw controls, respectively.

In goal, Sarah Thorman (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) made nine saves to earn her fourth victory of the season.

The Gators will be off until Wednesday, March 16, when they host a nonconference match against Mount Union at 5 p.m. on the Robertson Blue Turf.