Brooklyn Respecki against Mercyhurst
Brooklyn Respecki scored two goals for Gannon on Thursday.
3
Winner Gannon GANNON (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
1
Charleston (WV) CHAR (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Gannon GANNON
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
3
Final
1
Charleston (WV) CHAR
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GANNON 3 0 3
Charleston (WV) CHAR 1 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Jeff Kirik, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

Gannon women's soccer team rallies for season-opening win against Charleston

Respecki scores twice as Golden Knights limit Golden Eagles to one shot on goal

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) scored twice in the first half and the Gannon women's soccer overcame an early deficit as the Golden Knights defeated Charleston (W.Va.) 3-1 in the KU Invitational.
 
Gannon, ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, has now beaten Charleston two times in a row since the Golden Eagles started the 2023 season with an 18-0-3 record. Gannon eliminated Charleston 3-1 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. GU eventually advanced to the Elite Eight.
 
This was the first of two games that Gannon will play in the KU Invitational, which is hosted by Kutztown University. Coach Colin Petersen's Golden Knights will meet Concord on Saturday at noon. Kutztown defeated Concord 4-0 in the opening game of the KU Invitational on Thursday.
 

What happened:

Charleston struck early on a breakaway by Juliette Lucas, who lofted a 25-yard shot from the right-hand side into the top, left of the goal just 1:14 in the game.
 
Boden, a senior, tied the score 1-1 at the 23:09 mark with a header off a free kick by Destinee Robertson (Lacey, Washington/Timberline), who was credited with her first Gannon assist on the play.
 
Respecki, a sophomore, gave Gannon a 2-1 lead at the 32:37 mark of the half, when she hooked a free kick into the right side of the net from just outside the box.
 
Sophomore Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) set up Respecki's next goal when she stole a pass from the Charleston goalie and rolled a pass to an open Respecki, who easily scored into an open net. Emanuel recorded her first assist.
 

By the numbers:

This was Gannon's first opening win since 2021 when GU edged Pitt-Johnstown 3-2. Gannon lost to Concord 3-2 in the 2022 opener and tied Concord 2-2 in the 2023 opener.
 
Charleston's goal accounted for the Golden Eagles' only shot on goal. Gannon outshot Charleston 18-2, including 10-1 in shots on goal.
 
Because of Gannon's outstanding defensive effort, goalie Morgan Sinan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) did not have the opportunity to make a save.
 
Respecki led Gannon with five shots, including four shots on goal.
 
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