September 23, 2015
Lapia, Grove City blank Behrend
ERIE, Pa. -- Senior goalkeeper Nicole Lapia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) made a career-high nine saves for her second shutout of the season and the Wolverines scored twice in 90 seconds in the second half en route to an important 3-0 non-conference victory over Penn State Behrend on Tuesday night at the Behrend Soccer Complex.
Despite being outshot 15-2 in the first half, the Wolverines (4-3-1) were able to keep the Lions (3-5) off the scoreboard and go into halftime locked in a scoreless tie. The momentum would shift after halftime, and Grove City was able to get on the board in the 55th minute when senior forward Sammie Wild (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) dribbled from the corner of the box and fired a shot inside the right post for her second goal of the season to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Just 90 seconds later, senior midfielder Kristin Thomas (Ellicott City, Md./Chapelgate Christian) crossed a ball from the endline which sophomore forward Katherine Kouzelos (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) headed into the back of the net for her first goal of the year to push the Grove City advantage to 2-0.
The Wolverines would get an insurance goal in the 70th minute after a Behrend defender was called for a foul in the box. Senior midfielder Abby Mathes (Charlottesville, Va./Albemarle) was denied by Taylor Troyan on her penalty kick attempt but collected her own rebound and finished for her first goal of the season to increase the lead to 3-0.
That would be all Grove City would need, as the Wolverine defense held the Lions to just four shots in the second half to wrap up their third team shutout of 2015.
Grove City returns home on Friday afternoon to host regional foe Mount Union in a 4 p.m. match that will kick off the varsity athletics portion of the College's 2015 Homecoming activities.
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