ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's soccer team used its normal recipe for success while earning an important 4-0 victory against 12th-ranked Edinboro Wednesday night before a large crowd at Gannon University Field.
Gannon used defense and strong goaltending from
Sarah Geffel (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) to shut out its fifth opponent in six matches this season. The Lady Knights entered the match No. 1 among NCAA Division II programs in shutout percentage. The current stretch represents the first time in school history a women's soccer team had recorded five shutouts during the first six matches of the season.
Off to the best seven-match start in school history, Gannon took control early by exploding for three goals during the first 38 minutes.
Kaitlyn Kissell (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) opened the scoring, heading in a corner kick from
Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) during the 19th minute.
The next two goals came off a series of crazy bounces. Brueckner initially took a shot that the Edinboro goalkeeper was unable to handle in the 26th minute. The loose ball came out to
Sammy Valloud (Erie, Pa./McDowell), who beat the goalkeeper to her left and then scored through two defenders into an empty net.
The onslaught continued during the 38th minute with another unusual play.
Sarah Deck (Hamilton, Ontario/Bishop Ryan Catholic S.S.) pushed up from her defensive position and fired a shot that appeared to beat the Edinboro goalkeeper. However, the shot rung off the far post.
Michelle Genetin (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) then beat the goalkeeper to the rebound and passed the ball back to Deck, who headed the ball into an empty net for a 3-0 lead.
Gannon added an insurance goal 15:29 into the second half. Brueckner completed a four-point night with an unassisted score, blasting a loose ball into the upper, right corner from 20 yards out for the final goal.
The statistics sheet was a dead heat as both teams took 15 shots, including eight in the first half and seven in the second half. Gannon held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks while Edinboro finished with nine fouls compared to the Lady Knights' eight.
Geffel recorded a career-high 10 saves while recording her fifth shutout of the season. The junior's previous high was six saves at Lock Haven. Her five shutouts already equal the sixth-highest single-season total in school history, sitting three shy of the school's single-season record.
Meanwhile, Brueckner dished out her sixth and seven assists of the season. Despite being only seven matches into the season, the freshman needs only three more assists to break the school's single-season assist record.
Gannon improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with Wednesday's victory. The Lady Knights moved to 4-0-2 during their last six matches against Edinboro. The squad is now 4-0 at home this season and undefeated in its last nine matches dating back to last season.
Edinboro, ranked No. 12 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national rankings and No. 2 in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings, dropped to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play with its second consecutive loss.
Head coach
Colin Petersen's squad returns to action Saturday, September 22 at Mansfield. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
