ERIE, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (8-5-0, 6-5-0 PSAC West)  earned a vital 2-0 victory over the Gannon Lady Knights (6-6-1, 5-6-1 PSAC West) on Wednesday night. After a scoreless first half the Crimson Hawks got two goals in the second half, which when combined with a fantastic defensive team effort guaranteed that IUP would leave Erie with all three points on the night.
 
How it Happened
>> The opening stages of Wednesday's match were a tense affair with neither side able to fashion a legitimate threat to their opponent's goal in the first 15 minutes.
>> It wasn't until the 18^th minute that the Crimson Hawks really forced Gannon goalkeeper Kennedy Solymosi into action, when she was forced to claim a looping header from an IUP corner kick.
>> The Lady Knights would respond with a chance of their own in the 21^st minute. A misshit shot from the Gannon midfield turned into a great pass for a Lady Knights forward, but luckily for the Crimson Hawks her shot went wide of the post.
>> Those chances seemed to open the game up, and IUP had a great chance to get ahead just minutes later. Taylor Karan's angled drive forced a good save out of Solymosi, but Mahogany Willis was unable to corral the rebound, and was forced settle for a spinning strike that went over the Gannon crossbar.
>> Despite those chances, and their promise of a more open half, the game failed to really spark into life from there, and it was rather telling that the two sides combined for more fouls (16) in the first half than shots on goal (5).
>> The first ten minutes of the second half continued the trend of the referee being the star of the game, as neither side able to establish a rhythm midst the referee's near constant whistle.
>> It wasn't until the 57^th minute that the Crimson Hawks were able to put together a cohesive attack, but they certainly made their first real chance of the second half count. Samantha Joyce broke down right wing and put in a great cross which forward Taylor Karan headed home from six yards out to give IUP the lead in the game.
>> Gannon would then threaten the Crimson Hawks lead in the 65^th minute, but IUP goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski was able to deal well enough with the Gannon corner kick to preserve the IUP lead.
>> That chance would mark the start of a period of pressure from the Gannon offense as the Lady Knights went in search of an equalizer.
>> Despite the Crimson Hawks struggles to reestablish an offensive foothold, the IUP backline remained resolute in its defense of their goal, limiting the Lady Knights to half chances and long range shots.
>> It was fitting that it would be an IUP defender who would then help to put the game to bed for the Crimson Hawks. A foul by Gannon in the 82^nd minute gave the Crimson Hawks a free kick 40 yards from the Gannon goal. Center back Makzenzie Witzel lined up the free kick and blasted her shot over Solymosi in the Gannon net to double the IUP lead.
>> That goal seemed to deflate the home side, and the Crimson Hawks were able to buckle down and see out the final few minutes of the game to earn a critical division win. 

Game Notes
>> Wednesday's victory helped the Crimson Hawks to leapfrog their opponents into a tie for third place in the west with Seton Hill. Both sides currently have 18 points.
>> Karan's goal was her third of the season.
>> Witzel also notched her third goal from defense as well.
>> Goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski made nine saves in the match to earn the shut out victory. Wednesday night's shutout was her fourth of the season, surpassing her total from last year. Smakulski is now just two clean sheets short of tying her personal best total in a single season.
>> The two sides combined for 23 fouls in the match. IUP committed 13 fouls while the Lady Knights were called for 10.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks will welcome PSAC rival Slippery Rock to campus on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at the South Campus Field.