WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Allegheny field hockey team opened their 2022 campaign with a dramatic 4-3 victory following an overtime penalty shootout at Washington & Jefferson Thursday evening (Sept. 1).
 
The Gators trailed the Presidents 3-1 heading into the fourth quarter when Hannah Sharp (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Maya Francisco (Toledo, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day) scored unassisted goals to tie the game. Francisco's goal, which occurred on a breakaway, was her second of the contest as she initially scored off a pass from Kelsey Anderson (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) in the first quarter.
 
Allegheny outshot the Presidents 7-4 while Hallie Reiger (Oklahoma City, Okla./Casady) made three stops in the two extra sessions, sending the game into the penalty shootout.
 
After both teams were unable to find paydirt on their first attempts, Jenna Cassani (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) found the back of the net to put the Gators up 1-0 in the shootout. The Presidents answered on their fourth attempt to make it 1-1. Cassani went again on the Gators sixth attempt, and was once again able to hit the back of the net. Reiger then closed it out by stopping the Presidents' final attempt to earn the season opening victory. 
 
Inside the Box

• Francisco tied her career-high with two goals. She last scored two goals last season against Medaille. 
• Sharp tallied a goal while K. Anderson had an assist.
• Reiger finished the game with six saves.
• The Gators outpaced the Presidents in both shots (19-11) and corners (13-5).

News and Notes

• The Gators start the season 1-0 while the Presidents fall to 0-1.
• Allegheny is now 2-1 all-time against W&J.
• This marked the first shootout for the Gators and just the third game that has gone to overtime.
• Francisco's goals upped her career total to five.
• Sharp's goal marked the third of her career.

Up Next
The Gators are back on the road Saturday (Sept. 3) for a neutral site game in Ferrum, Va. against Meredith before facing host Ferrum on Sunday (Sept. 4).