Gators Ramp It Up In the Rain; Drop Oberlin, 4-0
OBERLIN, Ohio – Allegheny maintained its slim lead in the race for the North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season crown after orchestrating a thorough, 4-0 victory at Oberlin in a torrential downpour on Wednesday night. The Gators scored early and often while remaining undefeated in league play.
Allegheny (9-3-3, 4-0-2 NCAC) grabbed the lead just over six minutes after the opening kick off. Freshman central midfielder Jaymee Wallace delivered a pass on the outside to sophomore Michelle Holcomb, who opened the scoring with a chip shot over the head of Oberlin goal keeper Kate Frost. Four minutes later, the Gators established a stranglehold on the mid-week conference tilt with another score. Katrina Gazsi, who was on the receiving end of a tremendous through ball past the defense by senior Ashley Lehr, buried the one-on-one finish en route to her third goal of the year. In the 21st minute, Holcomb capped the first-half scoring with her second finish of the night and team-best fourth goal of the season.
Although the Gators held a decisive 3-0 lead at the break, the defense allowed a season-high nine shots. Oberlin's attack tested Emily Karr five times during the period, although the All-Region senior net minder kept her scoreless streak intact with several strong saves.
The Gators added only one goal in the second half, but the Blue and Gold dominated possession following the re-start. Keeping the ball deep in the offensive third, Allegheny peppered the Yeowomen goal with attempt after attempt. The Gators outshot Oberlin, 13-1, in the second frame and finished the contest with a 23-10 advantage.
In the 63rd minute, senior Georgia Frost had a point-blank chance that was stopped by Oberlin's Frost. Freshman Victoria Delzer corralled the rebound and drilled it into the back of the net for her second collegiate goal.
Karr, and Allegheny's core unit of defenders, which includes senior captain Kira Kliment and rookie standout Samantha Hoderlein, paced the Gators to their seventh straight shutout. The win also marked Karr's 12th shutout of the campaign, tying an Allegheny single-season record and extending her career clean sheet total to 41.
