ERIE, Pa. – On the same day the Gannon women's soccer team dropped out of the national rankings, the Lady Knights made it known that they are definitely worthy of the national accolades. Three different Lady Knights scored and
Maggie Brinkman (Clarence Center, N.Y./Clarence) turned away seven shots as Gannon shut out No. 13 California (Pa.) 3-0 Tuesday afternoon at Gannon University Field.
Tuesday's contest was yet another in a long line of important matches that are helping shape the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional seedings during the last few weeks. California (Pa.) entered the contest 13th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Poll and second in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings. Gannon sits at No. 4 in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings. The NCAA is scheduled to release its first regional rankings of the season Wednesday, October 17. The NCAA rankings determine postseason bids while the NSCAA poll has no impact on postseason bids.
Gannon appeared to have the energy and momentum from the opening minutes. The Lady Knights had taken three shots and two corner kicks before California (Pa.) could settle in.
Michelle Genetin (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) then struck first in the 18th minute.
Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) caught the Vulcans sitting on their heels by quickly inbounding a ball that went out of bounds. Her throw-in from midfield sailed over the last defender and sent Genetin towards the goal with the Cal defenders in chase. Genetin dribbled into the box, before beating the Cal goalkeeper on the ground into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. In the process, Brueckner increased her school single-season assist record to 11.
The two teams went back and forth for the rest of the first half. Gannon held a slight 7-6 edge in shots during the opening 45 minutes, but Brinkman recorded five saves in the opening stanza. The effort in front of the net helped the Lady Knights go to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.
Gannon wasted little time after the break giving itself some breathing room. Following three consecutive California (Pa.) shots, the Lady Knights were granted a direct kick from just outside the box after a foul. Brueckner fired a shot through a Cal wall of four players and past the Vulcans' keeper inside the left post for a 2-0 advantage 5:29 into the second half. The freshman now has 29 points this season, moving into fourth place among Gannon's best seasonal charts. She is 10 points shy of
Amanda Sharbaugh's record of 39 set last season.
The second goal came moments after Cal almost tied the score. A header by Haley Henderson hit the left post and was inches from entering the goal, before being knocked out by Brinkman.
Gannon iced the victory on
Sammy Valloud's (Erie, Pa./McDowell) eighth goal of the season with 5:56 remaining in regulation. The play started with
Mary Reilly's (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) lob pass from inside the 50-yard line after a foul. After deflecting off a Cal defender, Valloud dropped a shot perfectly into the upper, left corner from 25 yards out.
Both teams were able to get 17 shots off during Tuesday's battle. Gannon held a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks while the Vulcans committed 15 fouls compared to the Lady Knights' 10.
Gannon improved 10-3-1 overall and 7-3-1 in the PSAC with its first victory against Cal since the 2009 campaign. The Lady Knights reached double digits in wins for the third time during the last five seasons and the first time since 2009. The squad is only two victories shy of the school record set by the 1997 and 1999 teams that finished 12-7.
California (Pa.) saw its four-match win streak snapped, dropping to 11-3-1 overall and 8-2-1 in conference action. The Vulcans also saw their seven-match unbeaten streak come to an end.
Gannon remained in a tie for fourth place with Edinboro in the PSAC standings with three matches left. The two programs have accumulated 22 points. Kutztown sits in first place with 28 points while West Chester and California (Pa.) have 25 points. The top four spots are critical as those teams will host PSAC quarterfinal matches.
Head coach
Colin Petersen's squad returns to action Saturday, October 20 at Shippensburg. The Red Raiders are tabbed 10th in this week's NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
