Alfred Powers Past Lions, 3-1
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's soccer team wrapped up its September schedule with a home loss on Wednesday night, when the Lions were defeated 3-1 by non-conference opponent Alfred University at Spring Run Stadium.
Alfred (4-4) got goals from Olivia Gilbert, Sophia Carretto, and Abby Scanlan while totaling 23 shot attempts as a team.
Mallorie Smith (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) scored her team-leading third goal of the season for Penn State Altoona (1-4-3).
Adeline Baustert (Apollo, PA/Apollo-Ridge) made her eighth start of the fall at goalkeeper and recorded five saves in 76:54. Caitlin Cowen (South Park, PA/South Park) entered in relief for her first appearance of the season between the pipes, playing a scoreless 13:06 in goal.
Alfred drew first blood at the 20:37 mark. Scanlan sent a pass from the left endline to the front of the goal, and Gilbert was there to tuck a shot just inside the left post to make it 1-0.
Later, a foul in the box against Alfred proved costly for the Saxons, and Penn State Altoona capitalized on the chance to tie the game. Smith was awarded a penalty kick at 35:24, and she fired the ball inside the left goal post to knot the score, 1-1.
However, Alfred answered shortly before halftime to reclaim the lead. A ball sent into the box deflected off of the goalkeeper, and the rebound came to Carretto, who sent a shot into the net from six yards to put the Saxons back on top, 2-1, at 43:48.
The visitors tacked on an insurance goal midway through the second half. Nyah Solly sent a long pass down the middle of the field, where Scanlan took it, dribbled into the Penn State Altoona box, and sent a shot into the goal from eight yards to increase the Saxons' advantage to 3-1 at 70:28.
Smith and Rachel Rutkowski (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) each had two shots on goal for Penn State Altoona, with Rutkowski attempting a team-high four shots. KK Wolfe (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) also recorded two shot attempts for the Lions, and Sadie McConnell (New Enterprise, PA/Northern Bedford) had one shot on goal.
Next up, Penn State Altoona women's soccer will turn the calendar to October, when the team will open its Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference schedule. The Lions will hit the road this Saturday, October 1 to face conference foe Alfred State College at 4:15 p.m. for the team's first league game of the season.
