2024 Gannon women's soccer team photo
0
Gannon GANN (16-2-4, 10-0-4)
1
Winner Shepherd SHEP (18-1-4, 13-1-2)
Gannon GANN
(16-2-4, 10-0-4)
0
Final
1
Shepherd SHEP
(18-1-4, 13-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GANN 0 0 0
Shepherd SHEP 0 1 1

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

Gannon Drops 1-0 Decision at Shepherd in Atlantic Regional Championship Game

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A week ago the Gannon women's soccer team scored with 28 seconds remaining to defeat Kutztown and move into the championship game of the Atlantic Regional. On Sunday afternoon the second-seeded Golden Knights were unable to come up with another last-minute goal, in the process dropping a 1-0 decision at top-seed Shepherd.

Gannon was looking to advance into the Elite Eight for the second straight season but sees another outstanding campaign end in the Sweet 16. The Golden Knights end the year at 16-2-4. Shepherd's Cinderella season continues as the Rams are now 18-1-4 and have won 11 straight matches. Prior to this year the school record for wins was 11 and the Rams are making their first foray in the NCAA Tournament.

The first half saw Gannon control the play for the most part on a cold and windy day that saw snow flurries falling in the second half. The Golden Knights were dealt a blow when first-team All-PSAC West goalkeeper Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) went down with an injury while making an outstanding save late in the half. She would not return.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair until Shepherd's Josie Beezel scored the lone goal of the match at 73:07. Gannon pressured the Rams after that but Shepherd goalkeeper Hannah Wilt recorded 11 saves as Gannon was shut out for the third time.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Most of the first half was spent in Gannon's offensive end but the Golden Knights could not get the ball past Hannah Wilt. Gannon held a 7-5 lead in shots, including 5-4 on goal, and had four corner kicks to two for Shepherd.

Jessie Watkins (Bowie, Md./Bowie) had two shots in the early minutes of the game, and Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) might have had Gannon's best look at the 17:15 mark but saved by Wilt. With just ten minutes left in the half Gabby Boden's (Butler, Pa./Butler) high shot was corralled by Wilt.

Shepherd rallied late in the half and had the best scoring opportunity of the half on a breakaway. Anaya Lozano took a pass and had a good look in the front of the box. Gannon goalkeeper Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) came out and made a sliding save with her left leg, but in the process the first team All-PSAC West goalie was injured on the play.
Olivia Rosenberger (Albrightsville, Pa./Jim Thorpe Area) relieved Sinan at 40:57 and was immediately put to the test, but the freshman came up with the save. The half would end in a scoreless tie.  

Shepherd's attack pressed Rosenberger early in the second half but the freshman was up to the challenge. The Golden Knights had a bit of good fortune as Lydia Gable missed high on a wide-open net

The Rams finally broke the ice at 73:07. Gathering in the ball in the midfield, a long pass slid just underneath the outstretched leg of a Gannon defender to Josie Beezel. Her shot from the top of the box got past an onrushing Rosenberger into the upper right corner of the goal.    

Trailing by a goal, Gannon kept the pressure on but was able to come up with just one shot in the final ten minutes. That was shot from 25 yards out straight on by Paige Taylor (Robina, Australia/Emmanuel College), but it ended up being Wilt's 10th save of the day.

BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon finishes with a 16-2-4 record. It marks the fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament for head coach Colin Petersen's team, and the second straight year the Golden Knights reached the Sweet 16. The 16 wins are two shy of the school record and the third-highest season win total.

The Golden Knights held a 16-11 advantage in shots and had an 11-7 edge in shots on goal. Gannon had nine corner kicks and Shepherd three.

Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) started in goal and played the first 41 minutes. The graduate student was credited with three saves before departing with an injury. Freshman Olivia Rosenberger (Albrightsville, Pa./Jim Thorpe Area) came in and played the final 49 minutes. She also had three saves. Rosenberger had played 24 minutes, 39 seconds before today.
 
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