Women’s Soccer defeats Hilbert in AMCC opener

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's soccer opened Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action with a 4-2 victory over Hilbert (N.Y.) College at Highmark Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Junior Jenna McGuinness (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin HS/Seton Hill University) scored a brace and two assists as the Celtics (2-5-1, 1-0 AMCC) recorded two goals in both the first and second halves.

Elizabeth Knight (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) got the start in net and came up with a big stop in the ninth minute, allowing the Celtics a chance to go on the offensive.

McGuinness countered on a pass from Harley Vincler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park HS) to put Carlow on the board in the 12^th minute.

Hilbert (0-8, 0-1 AMCC) scored its first goal of the season five minutes later with a top shelf shot by Vanessa Van Slyke outside the 18 to even the score.

Goalkeeper Keira McFarland stopped a nice look by Anna Gribik (Clarion, Pa./Clarion Area HS) at 22' and denied a shot by Arley Wilson (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area HS) off a corner kick just seconds later to keep the score deadlocked at one-all.

Kaitlyn Reap (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area HS) found McGuinness for her second goal of the afternoon at 32' with a pass into the box that she one-touched into the net.

Ahead 2-1 at the half, Carlow scored its next two in succession soon after returning to the pitch.

Meghan McCoy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart HS) scored her first career goal at 55' after stealing the ball from a defender that offered her a wide open opportunity.

Carlow scored its final goal of the night when McGuinness assisted on the first career goal for Hannah Wright (Smithton, Pa./Yough Senior HS) in the 58^th minute.

Van Slyke scored Hilbert's second goal at 61' to cut Carlow's lead in half, but the Celtics held the Hawks at bay for the next 29 minutes.

Knight earned the win in goal with three saves, and Lyndsey Szekely (North Huntington, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) made five stops in the second half.

Carlow outshot the Hawks, 22-14 (13-10 on goal), as both teams were otherwise evenly matched in the box score.

The Celtics travel to Mount Aloysius College for a 7 p.m. match Oct. 1.