MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's soccer team rolled to a 5-0 United East Conference victory over Cairn on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3.
Julia Hughes led the Lions (4-5-1, 3-0 UEC) with a pair of goals, while
Abigail Mahaffey,
Olivia Sgrignioli, and
Kaylee Hope all scored a marker each.
Teagan Paragon,
Ava Myers, and
Ella Shirk tallied an assist apiece, while
Sydney Mulka and
Alli Dietz split the game evenly in goal on the defensive side of the field.
Just 12 minutes into the match, Hughes' attempt that was saved by Rhian Erspamer found the foot of Mahaffey, who made it 1-0 early in favor of the home team. Hughes scored her first marker of the afternoon in the 23rd minute, after
Mackenzie Mowery sent a long ball into the box that Hughes one-timed over the head of Erspamer. The Lions continued to put pressure on the Highlanders (5-3-2, 0-2-1 UEC), tallying nine shots before the end of the half, four of which were saved by the visitors' goalkeeper.
Dietz was forced to make her only saves of the afternoon two minutes into the second half, diving to deny Paityn Smith's attempt before saving Quince's free kick. The home team went up 3-0 in the 61st minute after Paragon sent a perfect cross into the box to Hughes, who strategically placed the ball into the right corner of the net. Penn State Harrisburg quickly extended their lead a minute later when Myers and Sgrignioli did a give-and-go that ended with Sgrignioli kicking the ball through a bunch of Cairn defenders and ultimately passed Erspamer. In a play almost identical to the Paragon-Hughes connection, Shirk found Hope a few feet away from the goal, scoring the final marker of the contest to make it 5-0.
NOTABLES
- With Hughes' two goals against the Highlanders, the senior now has 20 total markers for her career.
- Mahaffey's goal in the 12th minute marks the third of her rookie campaign.
- Sgrignioli and Hope both added a goal apiece on Saturday.
- Paragon, Myers, and Shirk all had a helper each.
- Mulka had a save in the first half, while Dietz tallied a pair of saves in the second frame, earning the combined shutout.
- The Lions outshot Cairn 29-8 and topped the visitors in corner kicks (5-2).
WHO'S NEXT?
Penn State Harrisburg hosts Penn College on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for another United East Conference matchup.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @
pshbgathletics.
