McKeesport, Pa. - With a six-goal day from senior midfielder Melissa Loftus (Oxford, Pa./Oxford), the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's soccer team went on to post their first Penn State University Athletic Conference victory, Sunday afternoon, over Penn State Worthington-Scranton, 9-3.
Worthington-Scranton was first on the board just three minutes into the game after a 1v1 breakaway turned into a 1-0 WS lead.
In a span of less than five minutes, Loftus went on to pepper the Worthington-Scranton defense with four straight goals, elevating Greater Allegheny ahead 4-1, all before the 18 minute mark.
The 25th minute brought another WS goal, cutting the lead in half, 4-2.
With time winding down in the first half, senior defender Jess Manfredi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) took a direct kick that sailed past the goalie, 5-2. Forty seconds later, freshman midfielder Shalonda Eley (Kansas City, Missouri/Prosper High) shot the ball for a deflection save, finding the feet of freshman forward Megan Dague (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) for a clean up goal, 6-2.
The Worthington-Scranton offense continued to link up down the field and with just seconds left, WS managed another goal before the half 6-3.
Greater Allegheny went on to net three more goals before the games end. Freshman midfielder Erin Findlay (Greensburg, Pa./Central Catholic) dished the ball to Loftus for two more goals in a course of 15 minutes, 8-3 GA.
Manfredi finished the game with a well-deserved goal, a hard-shot past the keep, 9-3.
With the win, Greater Allegheny notches their first PSUAC win of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Alexa Byers (Spring Creek, Pa./Corry Area High) faced eight shots on goal, stopping five.
Loftus ripped ten shots, nine being on target. Findlay posted five while Eley generated three.
Greater Allegheny will take a few days off before they go back to Worthington-Scranton territory on Saturday. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.
As a team, Greater Allegheny outshot the visitors, 26-12.