LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – A goal from senior Lexie Palluconi (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) was all the Crimson Hawks needed as IUP women's soccer posted a 1-0 win at Lock Haven on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The win was the sixth straight for IUP, which improved to 10-4 overall and 9-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). It's also the first time since 2011 that the Crimson Hawks have posted a 10-win season. The nine conference victories is also the most in the last six years.
 
It was also the ninth one-goal decision of the season for the Crimson Hawks, who are 5-4 in those matches.
 
IUP is ranked eighth in the latest United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Atlantic Region poll.
 
Palluconi's fifth goal of the year came as the match entered its 35th minute off a pass from Carley Donia (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca).
 
The Crimson Hawks' smothering defensive style was full-fledged in Lock Haven, limiting the Bald Eagles (4-10, 3-10 PSAC) to just four shots in 90 minutes of action. Freshman goalie Makenzie Witzel (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) saved two shots and posted her second shutout of the season. Witzel lowered her goals against average to 0.71 and increased her saves percentage to .821.
 
PSAC Standings
The Crimson Hawks settled into the seventh spot in the league standings with the win with 27 points. With three matches remaining, IUP is one point back of a fifth place tie between East Stroudsburg and Seton Hill, and two points back of a third place tie between Gannon and Slippery Rock.
 
Up next
IUP hosts Gannon (10-2-2, 9-2-2) this Saturday on Senior Day. Kicloff is 1 p.m. at South Campus Field.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.