INDIANA, Pa. (Sept. 11) – Playing its initial game of the season in the new league structure, the Vulcans suffered a 3-1 loss at IUP in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Wednesday afternoon.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team drops to 1-1 this season with a 0-1 mark in divisional action. The PSAC is utilizing a two-division structure this year with teams playing a double round-robin schedule within their respective division. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks improve to 2-0 overall after scoring a combined eight goals this season.
The Vulcans applied early pressure in the contest with a pair of shots on goal and a corner kick in the opening 13-plus minutes of the contest. IUP took a 1-0 lead at the 24:02-mark on a goal by sophomore Mahogany Willis, who scored four goals in the season-opener on Saturday. The Vulcans attempted to answer late in the period with another two shot attempts and a corner kick, but were unsuccessful in tying the score. Both teams attempted four shots in the first half and Cal U recorded the only two corner kicks.
Cal U tallied three more shot attempts with a pair on goal in a six-minute span early in the second period. Sophomore goalkeeper
Carly Gobbie (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) then made a save on a shot attempt by Willis in the 68th minute before Willis, who ranked third in the PSAC with 14 goals last year, converted a one-on-one opportunity just over a minute later for her second goal of the contest.
The Vulcans responded at the 72:40-mark when junior
Kellie Lynch (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) scored on a header off a corner kick by classmate
Carilyn Pasierb (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg). Cal U continued to control possession with an additional three shots on net and three corner kicks within the next five-plus minutes. The Crimson Hawks sealed the victory in the 85th minute on a penalty kick by Makenzie Witzel to give IUP a 3-1 lead with just over five minutes remaining.
Gobbie set a career high with eight saves while facing 13 shots on Wednesday.
IUP held a slim 14-13 advantage in shots with the teams combining for nearly 20 shots in the second half. The Vulcans finished with a sizeable 8-1 edge in corner kicks.
Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14, when it hosts Clarion in the home-opener at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility with play starting at 1 p.m.