MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Geneva College women's soccer team overcame a two-goal, second-half deficit at Allegheny on Saturday afternoon only to see the Gators score late in the second half to pull out a 3-2 victory in heartbreaking fashion for the Golden Tornadoes.
The first 20 minutes of the game was a fairly even affair before Allegheny broke through. In the 25th minute, Madeline Schneider got to a ball over the top of the Geneva defense first, and she slotted one past senior goalkeeper Lillie Berryman, who was making her first career start after spending her career as a midfielder and forward, while filling in for injured starter Jade Farnsworth.
Allegheny got a fortunate break 10 minutes later when Schneider took a long range shot that took a deflection and sailed just over Berryman's outstretched hands, giving the Gators a two-goal lead heading into the halftime break.
Geneva didn't fold, though, and came out with the better of the play in the second half. The Golden Tornadoes earned a penalty kick in the 57th minute when senior Olivia Anson was taken down in the box. Senior Saige Musser stepped up and scored to cut the lead in half.
It took less than five minutes for the women to pull even. Musser took a shot from the top of the box that Allegheny's keeper, Madison Lemanski, dove for and stopped, but the rebound deflected right to senior Julia Robertson who flicked the ball over Lemanski to pull the Golden Tornadoes level.
Geneva almost took the lead in the 70th minute when sophomore Abby Stover took a long, high shot that bounced in front of Lemanski and went over her head, only to hit the crossbar and fall into Lemanski's hands. Just two minutes later, though, Schneider struck again. Allegheny earned a corner and sent the kick to the far post where Schneider was waiting, and she tapped the ball into the Geneva net for the eventual game-winner. The women couldn't rally late and lost a tough one, 3-2.
Allegheny finished with a 26-11 advantage in shots, though much of that edge was in the first half. Berryman made 11 saves in her debut in goal, which allowed Geneva to make a comeback attempt.
The women will return home and host Saint Vincent on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
