Grace Emanuel vs. Edinboeo
Mike Gallagher
4
Winner Gannon GAN (13-0-3, 10-0-3)
0
Clarion CLA (2-13-1, 1-11-1)
Winner
Gannon GAN
(13-0-3, 10-0-3)
4
Final
0
Clarion CLA
(2-13-1, 1-11-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN 3 1 4
Clarion CLA 0 0 0

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

No. 5 Golden Knights Win 4-0 at Clarion to Set Up Winner-Take-All Showdown on Saturday

CLARION, Pa.  -- After learning earlier in the day it was the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region, hours later the fifth-ranked Gannon women's soccer team went out and remained undefeated with a 4-0 win at Clarion. The victory boosted the Golden Knights to 13-0-3 and 10-0-3 in the PSAC West. Clarion is now 2-13-1 and 1-11-1, respectively.

The NCAA announced its first set of ranked regional rankings on Wednesday, with Gannon ranked first in the Atlantic Region. With one match remaining in the regular season the Golden Knights have secured a berth in the PSAC Tournament but still need a win or a tie on Saturday at Indiana (Pa.) to clinch the top seed in the Western Division.

Gannon currently has 33 points and IUP 30. A Gannon win or tie secures the top seed, with the remaining top seed from the Western Division after the PSAC Quarterfinals earning the right to host the PSAC Final Four. An IUP win gives the Crimson Hawks the top seed since the two teams battled to a 0-0 tie in the first meeting.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Knights struck for the first goal less than ten minutes into the game thanks to the sophomore tandem of Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) and Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell). Destiny Robertson's throw in near midfield was headed up the field by Respecki to a streaking Emanuel. After several dribbles she fired a shot past onrushing goalie Alex Velez for a 1-0 lead at the 9:55 mark.  

Gannon struck for two late goals in the final five minutes to take a 3-0 lead into the half. The lead grew to 2-0 off Respecki's corner kick. The corner kick was headed into the left corner of the goal by Paige Taylor (Robina, Australia/Emmanuel College). It was Taylor's first goal of the season.

With just 49 seconds before halftime Respecki made it 3-0. She blasted a patented left-footed shot from 25 yards out into the far right corner.

The lead ballooned to 4-0 early in the second half. Gabby Boden's (Butler, Pa./Butler) crossfield pass found Madeline Endler streaking down the left side. Her crossing pass was headed in by Emanuel for her second goal of the night at 50:41.  

BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon held a 25-6 advantage in shots, including 13-1 in shots on goal. The Golden Knights had eight corner kicks to two for Clarion.

Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored a pair of goals while Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) had a goal and two assists. The sophomores each have a team-leading 11 goals, with Respecki adding six assists for a team-high 28 points and Emanuel five assists for 27 points.  

Gannon has now recorded 12 shutouts, including three straight, while allowing just five goals all year. Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) played the first 65 minutes in goal before freshman Olivia Rosenberger (Albrightsville, Pa./Jim Thorpe Area) played the remaining 25 minutes for her first career action.

NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon concludes the 2024 regular season on Saturday, November 9 at Indiana (Pa.). The winner-take-all match gets underway at 1:00 p.m.
 
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