Nicole Felice
Sophomore Nicole Felice's hat trick at Walsh represented her first three career goals.

Women's Soccer Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

No. 21 Gannon Women's Soccer Team Rallies for 4-4 Tie in Wild Season Opener at Walsh

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: No. 21 Gannon 4, at Walsh 4
  • Records: Gannon (0-0-1), Walsh (0-0-1)
  • Location: Canton, Ohio - Milazzo Field
  • The Short Story: The No. 21 Gannon women's soccer team rallied from one-goal deficits four times to earn a 4-4 double-overtime tie at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) member Walsh Thursday night in the season opener for both programs. Sophomore Nicole Felice (Cleveland, Ohio/Laurel School)'s first three career goals spurred the comebacks.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Walsh netted the first goal of the season 7:17 into the contest with a score by Corynne Swift.
  • Gannon responded with the tying goal in the 27th minute when Felice found the back of the net unassisted for her first career score.
  • The home squad needed only four minutes and 27 seconds to regain the lead, forging ahead 2-1 on Olivia Peters' tally in the 31st minute.
  • Both teams combined for only one shot during the final 14 minutes and 32 seconds of the first half, before Walsh took a 2-1 advantage into the intermission.
  • Gannon struck first after the break. Felice buried her second of the contest 14 minutes and 21 seconds into the second half, knotting the score at two.
  • However, it was deja vu as Walsh rebounded quickly. The Cavaliers needed only 68 seconds to forge back ahead 3-2 on Peters' second goal of the evening.
  • Gannon continued to fight and produced the match's third tie after Felice completed her hat trick 64 seconds later, scoring off an assist from junior Hannah Manczka (Fairview, Pa./McDowell).
  • For the fourth time, Walsh assumed a one-goal lead in the 78th minute. Peters matched Felice's hat trick with one of her own off an assist from Brianna Sanborn.
  • Gannon bounced off the deck one more time and rallied to tie the match at four with five minutes and 45 seconds left in regulation. Sophomore Kelsey O'Connor (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) accounted for the heroics with her first career goal, scoring unassisted.
  • The Lady Knights provided intense pressure during the final three minutes, but had two scoring chances turned away by Walsh goalkeeper Mickey McClanahan and one header off a corner kick sailed high.
  • Gannon controlled the first overtime, out-shooting Walsh 3-1. However, McClanahan stood tall again with two more saves, before a final Lady Knight shot went wide with eight seconds remaining during the first extra session.
  • The Lady Knights also dominated the Cavaliers during the second overtime, generating a commanding 6-1 edge in shots. However, only two made it on goal and both were saved by McClanahan.
  • The season opener then ended in a 4-4 tie after neither team was able to dent the scoreboard during the 20 minutes of extra play.

GAME NOTES
  • Gannon is ranked No. 21 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Preseason Top 25 Poll.
  • The Lady Knights out-shot Walsh 27-16, including a 9-2 edge during the two overtime sessions.
  • The Cavaliers held slight advantages in corner kicks (5-3) and fewest fouls (5-6).
  • Gannon out-shot its 17th consecutive opponent dating back to last season.
  • Felice didn't record a point during her first collegiate season in 2015, before producing a hat trick at Walsh.
  • O'Connor netted her first career goal during her first contest in a Lady Knight uniform.
  • Manczka dished out her fourth career assist during the second half.
  • Senior Shannon Differ (Brampton, Ontario /Notre Dame C.S.S.) started in goal and allowed two goals while making three saves during the first half.
  • Junior Danitza Indacochea (Maple, Ontario /St. Joan of Arc) assumed the goalkeeper duties for the second half and overtime sessions, making two saves while allowing two goals in 65 minutes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
  • Thursday's contest represented the highest-scoring season opener in school history with eight combined goals.
  • Gannon opened the season with a tie for the first time since battling Geneva (Pa.) to a 1-1 tie on the road in 2005.
  • The Lady Knights played the Cavaliers in the season opener for the second consecutive season, posting a 3-1 win last year at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Gannon moved to 3-0-1 all-time against Walsh.
  • The Lady Knights' four goals were the program's most in a season opener since defeating Bloomsburg 4-1 during the 2013 opener at home. It represented the most goals scored during a season opener on the road since a 7-0 victory at St. Joseph's (Ind.) in 2006.
  • Felice's hat trick was the first by a Lady Knight since Mani Brueckner (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) netted three goals during a 5-0 victory against Mansfield at McConnell Family Stadium on October 10, 2015. It represented the first road hat trick since Brueckner had three scores during a 4-2 win at Seton Hill on October 8, 2013.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon returns to action Saturday, September 3 by hosting Seton Hill in the 2016 home opener at McConnell Family Stadium.
  • Saturday's contest will conclude a football-soccer doubleheader and is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
  • Gannon leads the all-time series 6-1-1, including a 3-1 victory last season on the road.
  • The Lady Knights are 3-0 against Seton Hill since the Griffins joined the PSAC in 2013-14.
  • Live gameday statistics for Saturday's match can be viewed at http://www.sidearmstats.com/gannon/wsoc.
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Players Mentioned

Mani Brueckner

#23 Mani Brueckner

F/MF
5' 7"
Senior
Engineering
Shannon Differ

#13 Shannon Differ

GK
5' 10"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
Nicole Felice

#15 Nicole Felice

D
5' 8"
Sophomore
Physical Therapy
Danitza Indacochea

#0 Danitza Indacochea

GK
5' 7"
Junior
Criminal Justice
Hannah Manczka

#11 Hannah Manczka

MF
5' 10"
Junior
Occupational Therapy
Kelsey O

#18 Kelsey O'Connor

F
5' 6"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant

Players Mentioned

Mani Brueckner

#23 Mani Brueckner

5' 7"
Senior
Engineering
F/MF
Shannon Differ

#13 Shannon Differ

5' 10"
Senior
Sport and Exercise Science
GK
Nicole Felice

#15 Nicole Felice

5' 8"
Sophomore
Physical Therapy
D
Danitza Indacochea

#0 Danitza Indacochea

5' 7"
Junior
Criminal Justice
GK
Hannah Manczka

#11 Hannah Manczka

5' 10"
Junior
Occupational Therapy
MF
Kelsey O

#18 Kelsey O'Connor

5' 6"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant
F