LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Taking a 2-0 lead in the contest, the Lady Knights held on for a 2-1 victory over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent Lock Haven on Saturday evening at Hubert Jack Stadium. The match included only 14 combined shots between the two teams. Gannon improves to 2-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in PSAC action, while the Bald Eagles fall to 0-1-1 and 0-1-1 in conference play.
Sophomores Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) led the Lady Knights offense with three points off an assist and the eventual game-winning goal. Kaitlin Kissell (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) scored her first goal of the season to put the Lady Knights on the board in the match. Senior Sarah Geffel (Apollo, Pa. / Kiski Area) collected the win in net on three saves for the night.
After playing most of the first half without a score, it would come down to the final minute of play. For the third time this season, a corner kick by Brueckner resulted in a Lady Knights' goal. In the middle of the scrum, Kissell headed home the first tally of the contest to give Gannon a 1-0 lead with only 30 second remaining in the first half.
With Lock Haven looking for the equalizer from the start of the second half, Brueckner gave the Lady Knights a two-goal cushion in the 57th minute of play. Off a lead pass by junior Justine Rodrigues (Georgetown, Ontario / Georgetown District), Brueckner buried a shot into the far goal post from 15 yards out to secure Gannon a 2-0 lead.
Late in the contest, Lock Haven was awarded a penalty kick on a yellow card given to Geffel while the goalkeeper was making a play in the box. Lock Haven's Jamie Hunter scored on the attempt in the 84th minute, splitting the Lady Knights' lead in half, 2-1.
In their last effort to tie the contest, the Bald Eagles watched one of their chances by Breona Bowner ring off the crossbar in the 88th minute.
Lock Haven held an edge in shots (8-6) and shots on goal (4-3). Gannon received three corner kick attempts, capitalizing on one of them.
Opening the season with a win at home on Thursday, the Gannon women's soccer team closed out their opening week to the 2013 season with a perfect record. Gannon will remain on the road for three more contests. The team will next face East Stroudsburg in a PSAC matchup on Friday, Sept. 13 with the kickoff set for noon.
