JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (3-3-0, 2-3-0 PSAC West) was defeated by the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown women's soccer team (2-5-0, 2-4-0 PSAC) on Saturday afternoon in Johnstown, Pa. The Crimson Hawks were beaten by goals at the beginning and end of the match to end up on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline in the game.

How it Happened
>>Unlike in the match earlier in the week against Slippery Rock, the Crimson Hawks suffered an early setback in Saturday's game when the Mountain Cats scored the game's opening goal in just the 9th minute of the match.
>> The Crimson Hawks slowly grew into the match following that early blow, and by the mid-point of the first half the IUP offense was clicking into gear. The IUP offensive pressure was best epitomized by a series of dangerous free kicks and corner kicks that the Crimson Hawks won in a ten minute span between the 21st and 31st minutes.
>> The Crimson Hawks would also get their best chance of the match to get on the scoreboard during that period via Mahogany Willis. In the 22nd minute Willis's low shot beat the Mountain Cats goalkeeper, only for a UPJ defender to clear the ball out of the goal just seconds before it crossed the goaline.
>> As the Crimson Hawks started to press for an equalizing goal the Mountain Cats were forced to resort to committing tactical fouls, frustrating the IUP attackers. It was a  strategy that would work though, as UPJ was able to maintain its lead going into halftime.
>> The early stages of the second half were a fairly tight affair as neither side was able to wrestle control of the game from the other.
>> Then In the 77th minute the Mountain Cats doubled their lead out of almost nothing. A rare UPJ counter attack forced Smakulski and the IUP defense into action, and while the initial attack was thwarted, the Mountain Cats leading scorer Abby LaDuke was able to put the second chance away to give UPJ a two goal lead.
>> The Crimson Hawks were forced to throw caution into the wind as the match sped towards its conclusion, and forwards Taylor Karan, Samantha Joyce, and Willis all took turns testing the UPJ defense.
>> Despite their best efforts the IUP attack was unable find a way past the UPJ defense, and the Crimson Hawks ended the match on the wrong side of a 2-0 result.

Game Notes
>> The Mountain Cats becomes the first team this year to prevent the Crimson Hawks from scoring. Prior to Saturday's match IUP had scored at least one goal in all of their games thus far.
>> Forward Mahogany Willis was also held scoreless for the first time this year.
>> Goalkeeper Maria Tunney saw action in the IUP net for the second time this season, replacing starting goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski in the latter stages of the second half.
>> The Crimson Hawks remain in search of their first points on the road this year after Saturday's defeat.
>> IUP earned two corners in the game, and tallied eleven shots in the game.
>> The Crimson Hawks committed 9 fouls to UPJ's 14.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks are at home for two matches this week. IUP will host Seton Hill on Wednesday at 4 pm, before then welcoming Mercyhurst to campus at 1:30 pm on Saturday
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.