MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny field hockey team opened North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play at home against Washington and Jefferson Wednesday (Sept. 18), shutting out the Presidents 1-0.
 
The Gators earned opportunities early in the opening frame with a penalty corner followed by a shot just wide by Mallory Furgal (Middleburg, Va./Highland School). The Presidents pressured the Gators down the stretch of the first quarter, but Rowan O'Toole (Glen Burnie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) made six saves to keep the game scoreless heading into the second quarter.
 
The game remained scoreless until about five minutes into the second. On a penalty corner, an attempt by Jamie Marchewka (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) was deflected by Bella Cowen (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Country Day School) over to Jenna Cassani (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) in front of the net. Cassani quickly redirected the ball inside the near post for the Gator goal. That goal was the first in Cassani's career.
 
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third as the Gators maintained their 1-0 lead going into the fourth. After some back-and-forth play in the four, the Presidents looked for the equalizer. The final three minutes of play saw the Gators defense hold tough as O'Toole made six more stops, holding the Presidents off the board.
 
Inside the Box

• Cassani scored off an assist by Cowen five minutes into the second quarter.
• O'Toole finished the game with 15 saves, her second most of the season.
• Allegheny earned six corner attempts.
• Cowen had a pair of shots on goal. 

News and Notes

• The Gators are now 5-2 all-time against the Presidents.
• Cassani scored her first career goal.
• Cowen registered her fifth career assist.
• O'Toole's 15 saves are the second most in a game for a Gator.

Up Next
The Gators are back at home Sunday (Sept. 22) for the final nonconference game of the season against Wilson.