Aubrey Pine
Bryce Dolak

Women's Soccer Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Women's Soccer Game Preview: Fifth-Ranked Gannon Looks to Remain Undefeated Hosting UPJ on Saturday

PITT-JOHNSTOWN MOUNTAIN CATS at No. 5 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS
DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
 
THE GANNON-UPJ SERIES
Gannon leads 13-2-0
The Golden Knights have won the last three meetings with UPJ, including a pair of matches last year by scores of 6-0 and 3-0. UPJ snapped a four-game losing streak to Gannon in the first meeting in 2022, prevailing 1-0 in Johnstown.
Last Meeting: Oct. 7, 2023 – Gannon 3, Pitt-Johnstown 0 | RECAP

RECORDS
Gannon:  3-0-0 overall; 0-0-0 PSAC West
Pitt-Johnstown:  0-0-2 overall; 0-0-0 PSAC West
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon has jumped out to a 3-0-0 start and began PSAC West action on Wednesday with a dominating 5-0 win over Edinboro. Pitt-Johnstown enters Saturday's match at McConnell Family Stadium with a 2-1-0 ledger following a 3-0 setback to Slippery Rock on Wednesday. The match is part of Gannon's Soctember celebration welcoming back alumni to campus for the weekend.
 
Gannon was ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches Division II preseason poll and was chosen the favorite in the PSAC West in the coaches preseason poll. Wednesday's PSAC West opener began a stretch where the Golden Knights play 14 of their final 15 matches against PSAC West teams.

Pitt-Johnstown was picked to finish eighth in the Western Division. The Mountain Cats posted 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Davis & Elkins and West Liberty, respectively, to start the season. They were picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West after going 3-10-5 a year ago. 
 
The Golden Knights ended their 2023 season with a 17-5-3 record and placed second in the PSAC West a 13-2-1 mark. The 17 wins were the second-highest in school history.
 
Following Saturday's match the Golden Knights don't return to the pitch until Wednesday, September 25 when they conclude a three-game homestand hosting Clarion.
 
Rosters:  Gannon  UPJ
Schedules:  Gannon  UPJ
Statistics:  Gannon  UPJ
Head Coaches:  Gannon's Colin Petersen  UPJ's Aideen O'Donoghue

Golden Knights to Watch
GK Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley): The veteran goalie is a team captain in 2024 after being named to the All-Atlantic Region second team and the All-PSAC second team. She started 24 games in 2023 and finished with a 16-3-3 record. Sinan has posted a pair of shutouts in the first three matches to give her eight for her career.
 
F/MF Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler): The two-time All-PSAC second team selection is a team leader who will serve as a captain in 2024. Boden placed second on the team with 10 assists in 2023 and finished third with 20 points in 2023. She scored five goals. She accounted for Gannon's first goal of the season against Charleston (WV).
 
MF Ella Fadale (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport): She is a two-time All-PSAC West first team selection whose season was cut short by a late-season injury. The junior finished fourth on the team with seven goals and was fifth with 15 points.
 
F Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane): After being named a second team D2CCA All-American and third team United Soccer Coaches All-American a year ago the sophomore is off to a fast start. She recorded her first career hat trick in Wednesday's 5-0 win over Edinboro and now has five goals on the young season. She was chosen the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for last week after scoring twice against Charleston (WV). Respecki tied for third in NCAA Division II with 16 assists a year ago and was tied for fifth nationally with 42 points, the second-highest single-season total in Gannon history. The sophomore scored twice in the win over Charleston (WV) and was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week.
 
MF Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell): As a freshman she was voted a D2CCA First Team All-American. She tied for 16th in NCAA Division II with 14 goals and added four assists as she finished second on the team with 32 points. Emanuel has three assists this season.

Scouting UPJ: The Mountain Cats were picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West after winning just three matches a year ago. But UPJ is off to a fast start after posting shutout wins over Davis & Elkins (1-0) and West Liberty (2-0). They opened PSAC West action with a 3-0 loss to Slippery Rock on Wednesday. The 2-1-0 start is the best since the 2018 squad also won two of its first three matches. Sophia Lamesta and Lydia Roman lead the Mountain Cats with a goal and an assist apiece.

Next for the Golden Knights:  Wed., Sept. 25 vs. Clarion, 7:00 p.m.


 
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Players Mentioned

Gabby Boden

#11 Gabby Boden

M/F
5' 7"
Senior
Grace Emanuel

#24 Grace Emanuel

M
5' 3"
Sophomore
Ella Fadale

#17 Ella Fadale

M
5' 6"
Junior
Brooklyn Respecki

#7 Brooklyn Respecki

F
5' 3"
Sophomore
Exercise Science
Morgan Sinan

#0 Morgan Sinan

GK
5' 7"
Graduate Student
Cybersecurity

Players Mentioned

Gabby Boden

#11 Gabby Boden

5' 7"
Senior
M/F
Grace Emanuel

#24 Grace Emanuel

5' 3"
Sophomore
M
Ella Fadale

#17 Ella Fadale

5' 6"
Junior
M
Brooklyn Respecki

#7 Brooklyn Respecki

5' 3"
Sophomore
Exercise Science
F
Morgan Sinan

#0 Morgan Sinan

5' 7"
Graduate Student
Cybersecurity
GK