GREENSBURG, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (10-6-0, 7-6-0 PSAC West) bounced back from their setback on Wednesday against UPJ to earn a key victory over the Seton Hill Griffins (6-10-0, 6-8-0 PSAC West) on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Hawks Crimson Hawks scored three unanswered first half goals to take control of the match, before then adding a fourth and final score midway through the second period to earna vital three points.

How it Happened
>> The Crimson Hawks got the first real chance of the match in the 13^th minute. Good buildup play down the Griffins left side by Taylor Karan and Samantha Joyce resulted in a pass to Mahogany Willis in the Griffins 18 yard box. Willis did well to lose her defender, but she was unable to force her shot past Elyza Pilatowski in the Seton Hill net.
>> The Crimson Hawks were then presented with another glorious opportunity to opening the scoring in the 20^th minute when Pilatowski took down Taylor Karan in the box to give IUP a penalty kick, but unfortunately for the Crimson Hawks Pilatowski was able to redeem herself and save the ensuing spot kick.
>> Makenize Witzel would nearly give IUP the lead just five minutes later from another set piece. This time her freekick from 25 yards out beat Pilatowski in the Griffin net, but not the crossbar.
>> The Crimson Hawks could sense the breakthrough coming, and just minutes later Mahogany Willis would give IUP the lead. Samatha Joyce played the ball into Willis who hammered her shot into the Griffins net to put IUP up 1-0.
>> The Crimson Hawks would then double their lead in the 32^nd minute. Taylor Karan was well positioned to deflect a Mahogany Willis shot from close range into the corner of the net to register her fifth goal of the year.
>> The Crimson Hawks were in full flow now, and Gia Martyn was the next player to get on the score sheet. Martyn lined a up a long range blast from just outside of the left corner of the Seton Hill 18 yard box in the 37^th minute, and just like that the Crimson Hawks were up by three.
>> The Griffins would get their best chance of the half a few minutes later thanks to some good individual work, but the ensuing shot went wide of the IUP goal, and the Crimson Hawks headed into the break with a comfortable advantage.
>> The Crimson Hawks started the second half much as they had ended the first, with Mahogany Willis nearly adding to the IUP lead just two minutes after the restart.
>> Willis would have another great chance to add to her tally in the 60^th minute, only to see her goal bound shot blocked by a defender.
>> It was a case of Deja vu for Witzel just minutes later, as once again her direct free kick slammed off the Griffins crossbar.
>> The Crimson Hawks could clearly see that there were more goals to be had on the day, and Taylor Karan would prove that to be the case in the 72^nd minute. Mahogany Willis played a key role in setting up her strike partner who made no mistake from 12 yards out to increase the IUP lead to four.
>> Karan's goal would prove to be the final major piece of action in the match, and the Crimson Hawks would leave Greensburg with a vital three points in their quest for a PSAC playoff spot.

Game Notes
>> Willis picked up her league leading 15th goal of the year in the win. She would also add an assist to move into second place in the PSAC with 34 points.
>> Freshman Samantha Joyce notched her fourth assist of the campaign on Saturday afternoon.
>> Gia Martyn scored her second goal of the season, and earned her sixth point of the year. Both of those numbers are career highs for her.
>> This is the second two goal game this year by Taylor Karan.
>> IUP outshoot the Griffins 19-12.
>> Goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski made seven saves to earn the shutout win.
>> This was Smakulski's fifth shutout of the year.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks play their final two matches of the regular season against Mercyhurst and Clarion. The Crimson Hawks will travel to Mercyhurst on Wednesday afternoon, before then hosting Clarion for Senior Day on Saturday,