Three-Goal Explosion Fuels Gators' NCAC Semifinal Win
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny scored three times in a span of seven minutes midway through Wednesday's second half en route to a 3-0 victory over Wooster in an NCAC Tournament semifinal at Frank B. Fuhrer Field. The win results in the Gators' second consecutive appearance in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship game.
The NCAC Women's Soccer Championship will be hosted by top-seed and co-regular season champion, Ohio Wesleyan, on Saturday, Nov. 5. The game time is still to be determined.
Wednesday's semifinal marked a re-match of a series that ended in a scoreless draw during the regular season. Throughout most of the game, the teams looked even on the pitch, and the statistics reflected the level play.
After keeping pace with Allegheny through the first 70 minutes, the Gators exploded with three goals in a dominating 10-minute stretch. In the 73rd minute, Katrina Gazsi slotted her fourth goal of the season just inside the far post. Gazsi split a pair of Wooster defenders while catching a fantastic through ball by rookie Greta Hilbrands in perfect stride.
The Gators maintained the momentum and seized control of the tilt with a goal on their next shot. After working the ball back down into the offensive third, the Blue and Gold was awarded with a throw on the bench side. Ashley Lehr threw the ball into the box, which after taking one hard bounce off the carpet, was kicked out of the air by Dayne Rowe for the team's second finish in three minutes.
Four minutes later Allegheny stretched the advantage to three. Gazsi triggered the strike with great play along the sideline. Moving into open space, Gazsi fed the ball to Hilbrands, who turned and dribbled toward the middle of the pitch. Hilbrands delivered another great ball to a cutting Lehr on the right side of the net, who buried the feed for her third goal of the year.
Senior goal keeper Emily Karr made four saves, including three in the first half, to secure her 14th shutout of the campaign. Karr, who holds the school's single-season and career record for shutouts, ranks fourth all-time in Division III.
Allegheny outshot Wooster, 11-7, for the game. The Gators' Georgia Frost authored the best chance for either team in the first half, but Fighting Scots net minder Michele Ring tipped her blast from 20 yards out off the cross bar and into the box where it was cleared from danger.
