Allegheny Women's Soccer Blasts Out of the Gate; Nets 5-0 Win
Allegheny women's soccer opened the 2011 season with a dominating victory over Lycoming College in the opening round of the Red Devil Classic hosted by Dickinson College. The Gators, who were seeking a strong start following last season's outstanding campaign, were thoroughly impressive in Friday's tilt en route to a 5-0 victory.
Seventeen players registered at least one shot for the Blue and Gold, while the Gator (1-0) attack peppered Warriors' (0-1) goal keeper Sam Stropko with 36 shots, the most attempts for Allegheny in a single game since registering 37 shots in a win against Grove City on Sept. 24, 2005. Stropko made 16 saves on the night, although the 21 shots on goal signaled the most in a single game since a victory at Oberlin on Oct. 8, 2003.
Cruising to its third straight season-opening win, the five goals were the most for Allegheny in a season opener since hammering out a 6-1 victory at Hartwick in 2005.
Allegheny wasted no time in manufacturing its first goal of the season as junior co-captain Kira Kliment scored in the game's opening minute. Sophomore Alison Buzzard doubled the lead with an unassisted finish in the 12th minute, while Chyna Strickland, who subbed into the game during the 32nd minute, added a third strike for the Gators just prior to halftime.
The Gators turned to their rookie talent in the second half as Emma Loniewski (73rd) and Victoria Delzer (90th) authored their first career goals to account for the final margin of victory. Sophomore Megan Halsch, who was credited with a team-high four shots, was awarded an assist on the game's final two scores.
The dangerous Allegheny attack finished the game with 14 corners, and closed with a 36-0 advantage in shots.
Friday's battle marked the first-ever meeting between Allegheny and Lycoming, who is under the tutelage of first-year head coach Matt Dunn.
Emily Karr went untested on the night, while extending her career shutout record to 30.
