Women’s Soccer Overpowers Pitt-Bradford for Senior Day Win
by McKenzie Quirin
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's soccer team won it for the seniors, as the team won its second in a row with a 5-0 shutout victory against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Pitt-Bradford on Saturday afternoon at Spring Run Stadium.
Prior to the game, the Lions honored three players as part of the team's Senior Day festivities: Caitlin Cowen (South Park, PA/South Park), Camryn Kurilla (Mount Wolf, PA/Northeastern) and Mallorie Smith (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte). Additionally, the team held "Kick Cancer Day" and raised a total of $113 throughout the day to benefit the Pink Zone organization.
Penn State Altoona (4-9-2, 4-3-1 AMCC), with an impressive showing, saw five different players contribute the Lions' goals while posting a 40-2 advantage in shot attempts and a 25-1 edge in shots on goal. Dee Dee Abbott (Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick), Kurilla, Emilee Roman (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township), Smith and Jordan Yaletsko (Philadelphia, PA/Philadelphia Academy Charter) were the Lions' five goal scorers.
Cowen and Nicole Schwartz (Clifton, NJ/Passaic County Technical Institute) combined for a shutout between the pipes for Penn State Altoona. Schwartz got the start and made one save while playing the first half and the start of the second, picking up her fourth win of the season. Cowen entered the game and played a scoreless 32:47 for the Lions to finish the contest.
The Lions got on the board under 10 minutes into the first half when Smith sent a pass up to Roman. From just inside the Panthers' box, Roman lofted a shot in the top left part of the goal at the 6:10 mark to put Penn State Altoona on top 1-0. The goal was Roman's first of her collegiate career.
Pitt-Bradford (0-15, 0-8 AMCC) had a few scoring chances but ultimately could not convert on their opportunities, as Penn State Altoona held its 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Exactly seven minutes and 18 seconds into the second half, Penn State Altoona added to their lead on a goal by Abbott, who scored on a free kick from just outside the box at the 52:18 mark for her third goal of the season. The Lions stayed on the offensive, as they continued to battle to extend their lead. That opportunity came at 66:35, when Roman passed the ball to the middle of the Panthers' box, and Smith was able to kick it past the goalkeeper to score her 13th goal of the season.
Yaletsko widened the Lions' lead to a 4-0 advantage, as she tipped the ball past the goalkeeper at the 68:41 mark, exactly two minutes and six seconds apart from Smith's goal. This was Yaletsko's first goal of the season and was assisted by Kurilla.
Penn State Altoona kept their momentum in the later portion of the second half, as they created some impressive scoring chances. They converted on one of those chances as Kurilla found the back of the net from Hailey Yaletsko (Philadelphia, PA/Philadelphia Academy Charter) at the 83:03 mark and put the Lions at a 5-0 lead with her fourth goal of the year.
Penn State Altoona's win clinches an AMCC postseason tournament berth for the team. Final seeding for the playoffs will be determined following the last regular-season games next week.
The Lions' victory saw some key contributors in Roman with seven shots, six going on goal; J. Yaletsko with three shots, two going on goal; Isabella Marinelli (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) with two shots, one going on goal; H. Yaletsko with two shots, both going on goal; Sophia Nelson (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) with one shot that went on goal; Smith with eight shots, six going on goal; Abbott with five shots, three going on goal; Kurilla with six shots, three going on goal; and Rachel Rutkowski (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) with two shots, one going on goal. Erin McCarrie (Blackwood, NJ/Paul VI) contributed two shots, while Schenley Farrell (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) and Taylor Matula (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) both added one shot apiece.
Penn State Altoona women's soccer will play its final regular season game away against AMCC opponent Mt. Aloysius this upcoming Tuesday, October 24, at 7 p.m.
