GREENSBURG, Pa. - Sophomore
Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area) led the No. 19 Gannon women's soccer team to a 4-2 win over the Seton Hill Griffins at the Dick's Sporting Goods Field on Tuesday afternoon. Brueckner recorded a hat trick in the win, while adding an assist to finish with seven points. The Lady Knights improved to 7-3-0 overall and 7-3-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with the Griffins falling to 4-8 on the season and 2-8-0 in conference action.
Brueckner tied a previous career game-high in points (7), goals (3) and shots (7) to lead the Lady Knights in the win. Tallying the Lady Knights' other goal on the afternoon was senior
Annie Walbridge (Erie, Pa. / McDowell), who scored her first career goal. Sophomore
Rachel Evans recorded her first career point, assisting on Brueckner's first goal. Senior
Anna Colaizzo (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) setup Brueckner's second tally. Senior goalkeeper
Sarah Geffel (Apollo, Pa. / Kiski Area) collected three saves to pick up her seventh win of the season.
With the score tied at 2-2 in the 73rd minute, Brueckner gave the Lady Knights a 3-2 lead with her fourth goal of the season. The sophomore received a feed pass from Colaizzo, leading to a breakaway on Seton Hill goalkeeper Bethany Winter. Brueckner ripped the shot past Winter to hand the Lady Knights a 3-2 lead.
On a free kick, Brueckner added an insurance goal to the Lady Knights' lead to take a 4-2 advantage in the 85th minute.
The goal gave the sophomore her second career hat trick with her first coming in a 6-0 win over Millersville on Sept. 28, 2012.
To open the contest, Seton Hill took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Wallbridge erased the Seton Hill lead in the closing minutes of the first half. Off a pass from Brueckner, Walbridge tied the contest at 1-1 in the 43rd minute with her first career goal.
In the first five minutes of the second half, Seton Hill and Gannon exchanged goals. The Golden Knights took a 2-1 lead on a Brueckner breakaway for her first goal of the afternoon in the 49th minute. Evans was able to setup Brueckner with a lead pass with the sophomore racing towards the goal. Seton Hill quickly struck back in the 50th minute to tie the contest at 2-2.
The Golden Knights' offense dominated the field, finishing the afternoon with a 27-7 shot advantage. Seton Hill was forced to make 14 saves in the contest compared to Gannon's three.
No. 19 Gannon returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 when they host Pitt-Johnstown at Gannon University Field with kickoff set for 5 p.m.
