Jamie Seneca celebrates following goal vs. SRU in PSAC quarterfinals
Bryce Dolak
2
Slippery Rock SLIP (12-4-3, 11-2-3)
4
Winner Gannon GANN (14-3-2, 13-2-1)
Slippery Rock SLIP
(12-4-3, 11-2-3)
2
Final
4
Gannon GANN
(14-3-2, 13-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock SLIP 1 1 2
Gannon GANN 0 4 4

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Rally for 4-2 Win over Slippery Rock in PSAC Quarterfinal Match

Freshmen account for three of four goals

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon's high-octane attack came alive in the second half of Monday's PSAC Quarterfinal game to score four times as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-2 win over Slippery Rock. The victory boosted the Golden Knights to 14-3-2 on the season while Slippery Rock dropped to 12-4-3.

The Golden Knights now continue their quest for a first-ever PSAC championship on Friday, November 10. The number two seed out of the Western Division, head coach Colin Petersen's youthful squad will face Kutztown, the number one seed in the Eastern Division, in the PSAC semifinals on Friday. The Golden Bears earned the right to host the Final Four following a 2-0 win over Bloomsburg on Monday night. The other semifinal will feature Mercyhurst, the top-seed in the West, against East No. 2 seed West Chester. The 2023 PSAC champion will be decided on Sunday, November 12 with the winner receiving the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

The two teams battled through a variety of weather at McConnell Family Stadium, including a 35-minute lightning delay with 16:13 remaining in the first half. The first half in particular featured a strong wind blowing from west to east, and intermittent rain and a couple heavy showers added to the match.

Gannon controlled play for most of the first half before the lightning delay. When the teams returned to the field Slippery Rock gained momentum and took a 1-0 lead at 39:14 on a beautiful goal off a corner kick. Libby Zacharyasz headed in the corner kick from Ashley Rea. The 1-0 lead for Slippery Rock was their first this season against Gannon. The Golden Knights won the first regular season meeting by the same 4-2 margin, jumping out to a quick lead. Six days ago Gannon played at SRU and led 3-0 at the half before The Rock rallied for a 3-3 tie. The Rock led at the half despite Gannon holding a 9-4 advantage in shots.




The second half began in a back-and-forth manner, with Gannon's fabulous freshmen taking control of the match. Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored the equalizer to make it 1-1 at 61:57. The play started on a Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler) corner kick. It went far left side to Leah Bermudez (Milton, Ontario/Jean Vanier Catholic). Bermudez header was saved by a diving Leah Allman, but Emanuel was waiting right in front of the far right side of the goal to deposit the ball in the back of the net. The goal was her 12th of the season to take the lead in the PSAC.

That didn't last long, however. Less than four minutes later freshman Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) scored her 12th goal to give Gannon a 2-1 advantage at 65:45. She took a pass from Paige Taylor (Robina, Australia/Emmanuel College) and blasted a shot from 25 yards out into the upper right corner of the goal.

Slippery Rock needed 74 seconds to knot the match at 2-2 with Skylar Munnikhuysen scoring, assisted by Rea.

Gannon was just getting started, however. The Golden Knights would score twice in less than two minutes to take control of the match at 4-2. The game-winner was courtesy of a third freshman, defender Hannah Shepard (Erie, Pa./McDowell), at the 68:52 mark.  The goal once again started off a corner kick, with a battle for the ball on the left side of the box. Logan Nicklas (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) finally gained control and gave a short pass to Shepard, who shot immediately from 15 yards out, the goal once again going into the far right corner. It was Shepard's third goal of the season.

Jamie Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum) capped off the scoring surge with her third goal of the season at 70:33. The junior dribbled past a defender on the left wing and scored from 10 yards out, of course into the far right corner. All told it was the fifth goal scored by the two teams in a span of less than nine minutes.

Gannon ended with a 25-7 advantage in shots, including 16-3 over the final 45 minutes. The Golden Knights held an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) recorded a pair of saves in goal.      
 
Gannon team photo after playoff win
The Gannon women's soccer team poses for a photo after a 4-2 playoff win over Slippery Rock. (Bryce Dolak photo)

 
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