Gators Bury Grove City In Overtime, 1-0
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Junior Dayna Rowe made the most of a good crack late in the second overtime by burying an unassisted strike in the 104th minute to lift Allegheny to a 1-0 victory over Grove City in women's soccer action at Robertson Complex on Wednesday. The Gators punished the Wolverines with another strong attack, but were on the cusp of settling for a draw until Rowe's late heroics.
Allegheny (4-2-0) outshot Grove City, 11-0, in the first half, although only one of those shots tested Wolverines' starting keeper Tiffany Yost. Katrina Gazsi struck the crossbar with a clean rope in the 20th minute, while an attempt by rookie Greta Hilbrands was blocked off the goal line by Grove City's Jessica Heck five minutes later.
The Gators spent a majority of the afternoon deep in the offensive third, but despite continued pressure, the Wolverines prevented any damage by forcing a series of errant shots. Allegheny finished the game with a 24-3 advantage in shots, but only five of the attempts found their target. Five minutes into the second half, Gazsi hit her second post of the game, while a shot by freshman midfielder Jaymee Wallace was saved with 20 minutes left in regulation on a diving lunge by Yost.
The best opportunity in the first overtime came off the foot of defender Alex Gordon, who delivered a rocket from 30 yards out that curved into the hands of the Grove City net minder. At the start of the second extra session, Megan Halsch had a good look inside the box, but her shot from the right side was nailed right into the chest of Yost. Less than one minute later, Rowe blocked an attempted clear, took one dribble to the right and fired a blast from 30 yards out that sailed right to left into the upper 90. It was Rowe's first goal of the season.
Senior Emily Karr made three saves en route to her fourth clean sheet of the year. The Gators played 18 field players during the tilt, including Hilbrands, who made her collegiate debut midway through the first half.
