ERIE, Pa. - Amanda Sharbaugh's (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) second career hat trick propelled the Gannon women's soccer team past Davis and Elkins 3-0 Friday night in the season opener for both programs at a windy Gannon University Field.

Gannon battled a strong wind in its face during the first half, before settling for a scoreless tie at the intermission. The Lady Knights then dominated the final 45 minutes.

Head coach Colin Petersen's squad out-shot Davis & Elkins 14-2 in the second half. Sharbaugh snapped the tie in the 51st minute, winning a loose ball with the D&E goalkeeper and scoring into an empty net from 20 yards out on the left side.

The senior forward netted her second off an assist from Ashley Oluschak (Butler, Pa./Butler) in the 79th minute and concluded the scoring with another score off an assist from Lexie Mastro (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) in the 83rd minute. Sharbaugh's only career hat trick prior to Friday night came as a true freshman at Slippery Rock October 25, 2008.

Sabrina Chirco (Brampton, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) needed only three saves to record her 14th career shutout, becoming Gannon's all-time leader in career shutouts. Despite the low number of saves, the senior made the most spectacular save of the night. With the score still tied, Chirco stopped a point-blank shot from Jael Fedora 4:38 into the second half. The momentum led to Sharbaugh's first goal 60 seconds later. Brenna Tillman posted five saves in the loss. The Lady Knights out-shot the Senators 17-5. Both teams took two corner kicks.

Gannon improved to 1-0 with the season-opening victory. Davis & Elkins, the defending West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) regular-season champion, dropped to 0-1. The Lady Knights return to action Monday, September 6 against West Virginia Wesleyan at Gannon University Field. The Bobcats played in the NCAA Division II Tournament last season. Monday's Labor Day special is scheduled for 6 p.m.

For a complete box score from Friday's Gannon-Davis & Elkins women's soccer match, please click here.