INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (2-0-0, 1-0-0 PSAC West) earned a hard fought 3-1 victory over the California Vulcans (1-1-0, 0-1-0, PSAC West) on Wednesday afternoon in Indiana, Pa. The victory maintains IUP's unbeaten start to the season, and earns the Crimson Hawks their first points in the western division in the new PSAC divisional set up.

How it Happened
>> The opening stages of the match were a tight affair with both teams struggling to create any meaningful scoring chances. Both sides managed two efforts on goal in the first 20 minutes of the match, but neither goalkeeper was greatly tested by the opposing forwards.
>> The Crimson Hawks took advantage of the first really meaningfully opportunity for either side in the 24th minute when Mya Hilliard's pass was able to spring sophomore Mahogany Willis behind the Vulcan's defense. Willis used her speed to seperate herself from the trialing Vulcan defense before calmly beating the California goalkeeper to give IUP the lead.
>> The Vulcans responded to going behind by firing off shots on the IUP goal in the 32nd and 35th minutes, but IUP goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski was able to keep them at bay and send the Crimson Hawks into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
>> The second half started with much more intensity than the opening stages of the first half with both sides trading shots and fouls early on.
>> As the second half progressed the midfield battle continued to intensify before the Crimson Hawks managed to double their lead out of almost nothing.
>> Freshman forward Samantha Joyce's lovely reverse pass once again put Willis in a 1v1 situation with the Cal goalkeeper, and yet again Willis kept her composure to score and double the IUP lead in the 69th minute.
>> The Crimson Hawks two goal lead was short lived though, as the Vulcans responded emphatically to the IUP goal with a strike of their own in the 73rd minute. A set piece provided a route back into the game for the Vulcans, with Kellie Lynch heading home a corner kick from Carilyn Pasierb to halve the IUP advantage.
>> The next ten minutes were a nerve wracking affair for the the Crimson Hawks as the Vulcans stepped up the pressure and intensity of their attacks. Sophomore goalkeeper Smakulski was forced into making several saves including a critical stop off of another Vulcan corner in the 79th minute to keep IUP ahead in the match.
>> After weathering the Cal offensive storm, the Crimson Hawks finally put the game to bed in the 85th minute when Willis was fouled in the Vulcan penalty box to earn IUP a penalty kick.
>> Junior defender Makenzie Witzel took on the responsibility of the kick and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to restore the two goal lead for the Crimson Hawks and ensure the victory for IUP.

Game Notes
>> Willis's goals were her 5th and 6th strikes in just two matches so far this season.
>> Joyce notched an assist for the second straight game for the Crimson Hawks.
>> Goalkeeper Smakulski made 10 saves en route to picking up the victory.
>> The two teams were fairly matched when it came to generating shots. The Crimson Hawks registered 14 shots in the game, while Cal U recorded 13.
>>Witzel's penalty kick score was her first career goal for the Crimson Hawks.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Saturday night when they travel to Edinboro, Pa. to take on the Edinboro University Fighting Scots. Kick off it set for 5:00 pm at Sox Harrison Stadium.

Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.