Gators Shutout Hiram for Crucial NCAC Victory
MEADVILLE, Pa. - Sophomore Andrew Miller put home a Tyler Danzey rebound in the 30 minute, and sophomore keeper John Lichina recorded his seventh shutout of the season as Allegheny defeated the Terriers of Hiram 1-0 Tuesday night.
Tonight's match was crucial in the NCAC standings, as both Allegheny and Hiram are fighting for the final two spots in the conference postseason. The Gators came into the game in third place with a 3-1-1 record, and Hiram wasn't far behind in fourth with a record of 3-2-0.
The Terriers would control possession early in the first half, getting the games first real scoring chance. Ryan Greenhill played a great back heel pass in front to Ryan Minick, who would blast his shot off the post. Allegheny would answer immediately as they would mount a great counter attack. Miller would play a beautiful cross to junior Tyler Danzey, who just couldn't hit the ball square as he saw his offering sail over top of the Hiram goal.
However, the Gators would finally get on the board as Danzey made a fantastic move, cutting inside a Hiram defender and blasting a shot on net that the Terrier keeper couldn't handle. Miller would bury the rebound and Allegheny would go up 1-0.
The Gators would come close to making it 2-0 just before the half, when junior Chris Brennan played a great cross in front to a wide open Brian Graham; however, Hiram keeper Joe Rottinger would make a nice save to preserve the 1-0 score.
Allegheny would continue to put pressure on the Hiram back line in the second half with crisp passes, and opportunistic runs. Perhaps the Gators greatest chance of the second half came off the foot of senior Matt Weintraub, who put a phenomenal move on a Hiram defender, and let a rocket go that was saved by a sprawling Rottinger.
The victory was sealed by the fantastic play of sophomore John Lichina, who with tonight's shutout climbed into a tie for third place all-time on Allegheny's career shutouts list with 14. Lichina made two incredible saves in the second half to preserve the shutout, with the second coming during the 88 minute when Hiram was in scramble mode to try on send the game into overtime.
The win improves Allegheny to 11-3-1 overall, and 4-1-1 in NCAC play. The Gators are off until Saturday afternoon, when the Gators will host NCAC foe, and nationally ranked DePauw University at 1:00 pm.
