Juniata women’s soccer downs Lycoming to improve to 5-0-0

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College forward Caitlin Bigelow (La Mesa, Calif./Academy of Our Lady of Peace) scored twice in the first 16 minutes to lead the Eagles to a 3-1 win over Lycoming College, in women's soccer action Tuesday afternoon at Winton Hill Field in Huntingdon, Pa.

The win extended Juniata's winning streak to five games with an unblemished 5-0-0 record.

Bigelow scored her first goal of the afternoon in the fifth minute, burying a rebound of a corner kick taken only seconds earlier by Laura Goodlander (Etters, Pa./Red Land). Bigelow tallied her second goal in the 16th minute, taking a cross from Sarah Ruggiero (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) and blasting a shot past Lycoming keeper Chelsea Powers.

Shannon Pierce (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) added an insurance goal midway through the second half, settling a cross from Nikki Hankinson (New Baltimore, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley) off the right side, and finishing the goal from about 20 yards out in the 70th minute.

"Lycoming really pressured us, and we had to figure out how to play aggressively against a great deal of pressure," said Juniata head coach Scott McKenzie. "We responded; our system did hold, and we were able to play a more possessive game in the second half and make the most of our chances to move forward."

Lycoming (0-3-2) finally got on the scoreboard in the 17th minute, when Bekah Shipe slipped a shot past Juniata keeper Kristen Penska (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), with an assist going to Kati Shaner.

"They (Lycoming) created a lot of havoc in the first half, and it took us a few minutes to sort out how to play in that havoc," said McKenzie.

Juniata outshot Lycoming 16-7, and had a 5-4 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Penska finished the game with one save over her 90 minutes in the Juniata goal, while Powers tallied eight saves against three goals allowed.

Juniata will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 20, when it heads to Altoona, Pa., to face Penn State-Altoona at 1:00 p.m.

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