INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (3-1-0, 2-1-0 PSAC West) scored a thrilling overtime victory over the visiting Gannon University Lady Knights (2-3-0, 1-3-0, PSAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Hawks earned the win thanks to a Mahogany Willis goal in the first period of extra time, and some outstanding defensive play from goalkeeper Madeline Smaulski and the rest of the IUP backline.

How it Happened
>>  Saturdays' match got off to a frantic start as both sides had several great chances to score within the opening ten minutes of the game. The Lady Knights had the first chance of the match in the 7^th minute when forward Kayla Bevacqua found herself 1v1 with IUP goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski. However, Smakulski was alert to the danger and was quick off of her goal line to block Bevacqua's shot and deny her the opening goal of the match. 
>> The Crimson Hawks almost immediately answered that chance with one of their own, when in the 9^th minute Mahogany Willis managed to beat the Gannon goalkeeper with her shot, only to see the ball hit off of both goal posts and somehow stay out of the back of the Gannon net.
>> Smaulski would be called into action again in the 17^th minute when she combined with defenders Makenzie Witzel and Cassidy Zandier to make a series of blocks and saves in quick succession as the ball pinballed around the IUP box before eventually being put out for a Gannon corner.
>> A hydration break shortly after that helped to slow the pace go the game down and the rest of the first half passed with few clear chances for either side.
>> The Crimson Hawks did almost go into the break with the lead though, as a free kick by Makenzie Witzel from just inside the Gannon half had to be tipped onto the crossbar by Gannon goalkeeper Kennedy Solymosi to preserve the nil-nil tie.
>> The halftime interval seemed to refresh the visiting Lady Knights as they resumed their assault on the IUP goal as the second half began, racking up 5 shots in first ten minutes of the half. Samulski and the IUP defense proved to be up to the challenge though, with the junior goalkeeper making several acrobatic saves to deny the Lady Knights.  On the few occasions that Smakulski was beaten, her defenders were always on hand to put their bodies on the line, blocking several goal bound shots for the IUP cause.
>> After weathering the pressure from Gannon, the Crimson Hawks almost struck back in the 70^th minute when a Willis shot went just inches wide of the Gannon goal.
>> With neither side able to make the breakthrough in regulation the match entered two ten-minute sudden death overtime periods.
>>The Crimson Hawks didn't have to wait long for their golden goal though, as just over three minutes into the first period of extra time midfielder Mya Hilliard found Willis with a long pass behind the Gannon defense, and once Willis collected the pass there was no catching her, and she kept her nerve to beat Solymosi and win the game for IUP.

Game Notes
>> Willis continued her impressive streak of scoring in every match so far this season. Her goal against Gannon was her eighth strike in four games.
>> Saturday's match was IUP's first overtime game of the season so far.
>> Hilliard's assist was her second of the season.
>> Smakulski made 13 saves to help IUP to the win, setting a new career high in the process.
>> Saturday's victory was Smakulski's second shutout of the year.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks are on the road for two matches next week. They will travel to Slippery Rock on Wednesday, September 25^th, before then heading to Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday. Kickoff times are set for 4:00 pm on Wednesday, and 2:00 pm on Saturday.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.