Shannon Differ
1
West Chester WCU-W (3-1, 3-1 PSAC)
2
Winner Gannon University GAN (4-0, 3-0 PSAC)
West Chester WCU-W
(3-1, 3-1 PSAC)
1
Final
2
Gannon University GAN
(4-0, 3-0 PSAC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
West Chester WCU-W 0 1 1
Gannon University GAN 1 1 2

Next Game:

at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

9/15/2015 | 4:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Sep. 15 (Tue) / 4:00 PM
at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

No. 19 Gannon Women's Soccer Team Knocks Off No. 5 West Chester; Remains Unblemished After Defeating Highest-Ranked Opponent in Program History

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: at Gannon 2, West Chester 1
  • Records: Gannon (4-0, 3-0 PSAC), West Chester (3-1, 3-1 PSAC)
  • Location: Erie, Pa. - McConnell Family Stadium
  • The Short Story: The 19th-ranked Gannon women's soccer team scored the first two goals and held off fifth-ranked West Chester 2-1 Saturday night in conditions that included heavy rain and wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour at McConnell Family Stadium.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon dented the scoreboard first with a goal in the 33rd minute. Junior Olivia Augustyniak (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) placed a perfect shot from 50 yards out that was tipped away at the last second by a leaping West Chester goalkeeper. However, the ball then bounced off the crossbar and landed in front of the net where senior Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) finished the scoring play with a header into the net.
  • The Lady Knights led 1-0 at halftime thanks to three great saves by junior Shannon Differ (Brampton, Ontario/Notre Dame C.S.S.). The first came in the 13th minute when she made a point-blank save on a redirect from in front.
  • In the 23rd minute, Differ stopped a shot off a direct kick that ricocheted off a defender.
  • The save that arguably put all the momentum at the time on Gannon's side came with 9:15 remaining in the first half. West Chester was awarded a penalty kick, but Differ made a diving save to her left on Katie Huber's attempt to preserve a 1-0 advantage.
  • Gannon extended its lead to 2-0 on a spectacular play by Sammy Valloud (Erie, Pa./McDowell) in the 51st minute. The senior forward used creative footwork to get past her defender on the right side, before lobbing a perfect shot from 25 yards out over a leaping West Chester goalkeeper. 
  • West Chester tried to rally, cutting the deficit in half on Lexi Brown's first goal of the season with 8:40 left in regulation. However, Gannon controlled the remainder of the match. The Lady Knights held the visitors without another shot while taking three corner kicks during the final eight minutes and seven seconds.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon is ranked No. 19 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Poll and No. 3 in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings.
  • West Chester is tabbed No. 5 in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll and No. 1 in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings.
  • The match was a statistical dead heat. West Chester out-shot Gannon 11-10, but the Lady Knights held advantages corner kicks (5-2) and fouls (10-9).
  • Saturday's match was played in poor weather conditions that featured heavy rain throughout and wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour. Wet field conditions also slowed down all passes on the ground.
  • Differ improved to 4-0 in goal with a season-high six saves. All six came during the first half and fell one shy of her career-high.
  • Valloud scored her second game-winning goal of the season and fifth of her career.
  • Augustyniak's assist was the first of her career.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Gannon's victory was its first against a nationally-ranked team since posting a 1-0 shutout at No. 15 Slippery Rock November 5, 2013 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals.
  • West Chester was the highest nationally-ranked opponent to play Gannon since the Golden Rams were tabbed fourth on September 29, 2012. 
  • Gannon defeated a top-five program for the first time in school history.
  • The Lady Knights are off to their first 4-0 start since opening the 2012 campaign with five straight victories.
  • Valloud grabbed sole possession of 18th place all-time at Gannon with her 33rd career point. She moved into a tie with Tenyka Francique (2009-10) for 12th place all-time with her 16th career goal.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon begins a two-match road trip Tuesday, September 15 at Indiana (Pa.).
  • It will be a clash of regionally-ranked programs. Gannon is tabbed third in the NSCAA Atlantic regional rankings while IUP is ninth.
  • Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
  • Indiana (Pa.) leads the all-time series 13-9-1.
  • Gannon has won two of the last three encounters, including a 7-1 victory last season at home.
  • Live gameday statistics will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/iup/wsoc.
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Players Mentioned

Olivia Augustyniak

#5 Olivia Augustyniak

D
5' 7"
Junior
Advertising Communications
Mani Brueckner

#23 Mani Brueckner

F/MF
5' 7"
Senior
Engineering
Shannon Differ

#31 Shannon Differ

GK
5' 10"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
Sammy Valloud

#10 Sammy Valloud

F/MF
5' 6"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science

Players Mentioned

Olivia Augustyniak

#5 Olivia Augustyniak

5' 7"
Junior
Advertising Communications
D
Mani Brueckner

#23 Mani Brueckner

5' 7"
Senior
Engineering
F/MF
Shannon Differ

#31 Shannon Differ

5' 10"
Junior
Sport and Exercise Science
GK
Sammy Valloud

#10 Sammy Valloud

5' 6"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
F/MF