ERIE, Pa. - For the second straight match, sophomore
Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area) led the No. 19 Gannon women's soccer team to victory with a seven-point performance off two goals and three assists. On Saturday evening, the Lady Knights dominated the Pitt-Johnstown Lady Cats, 6-1, at Gannon University Field. Brueckner's three assists secured her a spot in program history as she became the all-time career assists leader (25). The Lady Knights improved to 8-3-0 overall and 8-3-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action, while the Lady Cats dropped to 0-11-0 on the season and in conference action.
With seven points on the evening, Brueckner moved into the top five on the school all-time career points list with 59. This week, the sophomore has collected a combined 14 points, including an additional seven against Seton Hill on Oct. 8.
Combining with Brueckner to fuel the Lady Knights' offense was sophomore
Britney Barry (Sydney, Australia / St. Andrews Lutheran College) with four points off a goal and two assists and junior
Justine Rodrigues (Georgetown, Ontario / Georgetown District) with a pair of goals. Senior goalkeeper
Sarah Geffel (Apollo, Pa. / Kiski Area) registered one save to collect her eighth win of the season, as freshman
Kayla Wysocki (Avon , Ohio / Avon) made her collegiate debut with two saves.
Just over a minute into the match, Brueckner connected with junior
Michelle Genetin (Navarre, Ohio / Perry) from the left side. Genetin shot the ball low inside the right post to give the Lady Knights a 1-0 lead.
Gannon struck again in the fifth minute off a corner kick opportunity. With Brueckner lined up in the left corner, the sophomore fired the ball into the mouth of the Lady Cats' goal with Barry heading the ball to Rodrigues, who buried the ball with a header for a 2-0 Golden Knights' lead.
Brueckner's helper on Rodrigues' goal gave the sophomore 24 career assists to put her in sole possession of the school all-time career assists record. Brueckner broke the previous record of 23 held by former Lady Knight Courtney Rowan (2005-08).
Only 10 minutes into the match, Brueckner connected with Barry to extend Gannon's lead to 3-0.
On a solo effort, Brueckner pushed the Lady Knights' lead to 4-0 in the 21st minute for her first goal of the evening and her sixth of the season. The tally slid Brueckner into the top five on the all-time list for most points by a Lady Knight, moving her ahead of Adrienne Rasmussen (1989-92).
With under four minutes remaining in the first half, Rodrigues scored her second goal of the evening to give Gannon a 5-0 advantage heading into the break. Sophomore
Becca Albert (Fairview, Pa. / General McLane) recorded her first point of the season, setting up Rodrigues' goal.
In the second half, Gannon and Pitt-Johnstown exchanged goals before the final whistle. The Lady Knights struck in the 59th minute, as Brueckner recorded her sixth point of the evening and seventh goal of the season off an assist by Barry to give the Lady Knights a 6-0 lead.
Gannon came within one minute and 51 seconds from posting its third shutout of the season, as Kim Bonnett spoiled the Lady Knights' chance with the Lady Cats' lone tally of the evening. The Lady Cats' goal would be the last play for either team, as the Lady Knights captured a 6-1 win in its seventh straight regular-season win at home.
No. 19 Gannon remains at home when the team returns to action against Edinboro on Wednesday, Oct. 16 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
