ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women's soccer team's super sophomores accounted for three goals and the defense dominated again as the Golden Knights remained unbeaten with a 3-0 victory over Clarion on Wednesday evening at McConnell Family Stadium.
 
Coach Colin Petersen's Gannon team, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II, turned in its fourth consecutive shutout as the Knights improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC West. Clarion dropped to 1-5 and 0-4.
 
Sophomore midfielder Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored her first two goals of the season, and sophomore forward Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) scored her seventh of the year to power Gannon's offense.
 

What happened:

Gannon struck early as Emanuel scored on a play set up by the slick passes of two teammates. Senior midfielder Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler) sent a crossing pass from the right side of the field to the left side of the goal. June Monasterio (Bilbao, Spain/Claret Askartza) gathered the pass and found Emanuel, who sent the ball just inside the left post. Boden and Monasterio were credited with assists on the play.
 
Respecki entered the game fourth in Division II with six goals, and she struck again late in the first half when she took a long pass down the left side, made a move against a defender, and hooked a 15-yard shot across to the right upper corner of the net.
 
Emanuel capped the scoring at the 61:50 mark when she took a pass from senior midfielder Jamie Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum) and tipped it into the net from the left side of the goal.

Much of the game was played in a heavy downpour, especially late in the first half and early in the second half.
 

The No. 2 Gannon women's soccer team moved to 5-0 with a 3-0 homefield victory over Clarion on Wednesday at McConnell Family Stadium. Here's a look at Gannon's three goals.@GannonU @guwsoc_814 pic.twitter.com/gEFnlKHW9O

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) September 26, 2024

By the numbers:
 
Gannon has now shut out its five opponents for the past 448 minutes after allowing a goal less than two minutes into the season.
 
Gannon outshot Clarion 40-3 and had a 20-1 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Despite giving up three goals and taking the loss, Clarion goalie Sage Sherk made 17 saves. Winning goalie Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) only had to make one save in 75 minutes of playing time.

 
What's ahead:
 
Gannon will travel to California, Pa., on Saturday to take on the Vulcans at 1 p.m.