ERIE, Pa. - The No. 15 Gannon women's soccer team and Edinboro Fighting Scots battled to a 1-1 draw in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action at Gannon University Field on Wednesday evening. The Lady Knights erased a first-half lead by the Fighting Scots with an early equalizer in the second half before the two teams settled for a draw. The Lady Knights move to 8-3-1 on the season and in conference action, while the Fighting Scots secure a 9-3-1 overall record and 7-3-1 record in conference play.
Entering the match with win streaks on the line, each team managed to walk away with them intact. The Lady Knights remain unbeaten at home in their last eight regular-season matches and the Fighting Scots improve their unbeaten streak to seven matches.
Following a defensive battle in the first half, the Lady Knights and Fighting Scots turned on their offensive abilities in the second half. Compiling nine total shots in the first half, the two teams erupted for 26 total shots in the second frame.
The Lady Knights were led by junior
Michelle Genetin (Navarre, Ohio / Perry) and sophomore
Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area), who connected to record the team's points on the evening. Genetin tallied her fifth goal of the season, while Brueckner collected her 13th assist of the season and 26th of her career. Senior goalkeeper
Sarah Geffel (Apollo, Pa. / Kiski Area) held off the Fighting Scots in the draw, recording five saves.
In the 15th minute of action, Edinboro broke the scoreless match. Off a corner kick opportunity, junior Liz Debo managed to locate a loose rebound, sending the ball over to junior Allyson Overly. From inside the mouth of the goal, the junior buried the ball to give the Fighting Scots a 1-0 lead.
Only two minutes later, Debo came within three feet of extending the Fighting Scots' lead. With a defender latched on her hip, Debo managed to walk in on Geffel with the goalkeeper making a diving save to keep the Edinboro lead at 1-0.
The Lady Knights capitalized on their own corner kick attempt in the 54th minute. With Brueckner lined up to take the opportunity from the left corner, she fired the ball into the air. Battling for positioning, Genetin managed to setup inside the right post with the junior guiding the ball in for her third tally to tie the match at 1-1. This season, Brueckner has connected with a teammate on six corner kicks.
After the Lady Knights' tally, the two offenses opened up. The two teams were able to move the ball and find gaps in the defense, resulting in 20 combined shots in the remaining time.
The Fighting Scots rang two shots off the crossbar and one off the post including a chance by Debo off the crossbar in the 85th minute. The Lady Knights'
Justine Rodrigues (Georgetown, Ontario / Georgetown District) also fired a shot off the post in the 67th minute.
The Lady Knights held a 22-16 shot advantage in the match. In addition, the Lady Knights held a 10-4 edge in corner kick opportunities.
No. 15 Gannon remains at home when the team hosts Northwood (Mich.) on Friday, Oct. 18 with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
