ERIE, Pa. – Despite a terrific first half penalty kick save by Golden Knights goalkeeper Jordan August (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown) and a red card for Seton Hill that put them a player down, the Gannon University women's soccer team could not find a goal to equalize the game despite dominating possession and every offensive metric. The Griffins played defensively, committing to holding onto the lead, and survived for the 1-0 win.
 
The huge first moment of the home opener at McConnell Family Stadium came in the 7^TH minute, when Seton Hill's Kathryn Penman was brought down in the box to earn a penalty kick. Natalie Maver stepped up to the spot to take it and shot it low and to the right. A huge dive to her left by Jordan August (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown) stopped the initial shot, and August also made a fantastic reaction save on a follow-up shot from Alexis Garia.
 
Gannon seized momentum after that, including a second yellow card on Seton Hill's Nevena Gojak in the 22^nd minute that took her out of the game and forced the Griffins to field 10 players for the remaining seventy minutes of the contest.  
 
Despite being on the defensive, Seton Hill threatened again in the 36^th minute, earning its only corner kick of the game. The team made it count, as the ensuing cross dropped right in front of goal, rattled around, and was eventually booted into the net by Olivia DeLeonibus for the 1-0 lead.
 
The rest of the game found short-handed Seton Hill desperately defending against the Golden Knights. Gannon held a 26-6 total shot advantage over the Griffins (including a team-high five shots from Taylor Lewis (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) and four each from Sarah Fails (Girard, Pa./Villa Maria), Laurel Prokopchak (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), and Kayla Bevacqua (Welland, Ontario/Notre Dame).) Gannon also ended the contest with a 7-1 margin in corner kicks but were not able to find the goal they needed.
 
Next up for the Lady Knights is two consecutive home games, beginning with rivals Mercyhurst on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. The team then hosts IUP on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:00 p.m.