Women's Soccer Downs Altoona in AMCC Action

ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's soccer team opened up Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over Penn State Altoona.

Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) scored a pair of goals and Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) added a goal and an assist to help the Lions (4-5) post their fourth straight win over Altoona. It also marks the fifth time Behrend has scored five or more goals against the Lions.

Megan Schwartz (Shaler, PA/Shaler) tallied the first goal in the 12^th minute, helping the Lions get to a 4-1 lead at halftime.

Belack netted both goals in the first 45 minutes. She followed Schwartz with an unassisted goal, beating the Molly Malone to the right from the top of the 18 to make it 2-0 just 14 minutes into the game.

Altoona recorded its first goal with an unassisted tally by Brittany Allison at the 17:59 mark on a penalty kick, but Belack struck again this time off an assist from Bilka in the 29^th minute for a 3-1 advantage. Bilka got a goal off a penalty kick after assisting on two to push the lead to 4-1 heading into the second half.

Freshman Caitlin Caldwell (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon) notched her first collegiate goal in a Behrend uniform in the 82^nd minute. Katie Powers (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) sent a long ball in the box and Caldwell was there to find the back of the net for a 5-1 lead.

Allison was able to get her second goal in with under a minute left to play to bring the score closer. She hooked a direct kick from the left side to get Altoona within three goals.

The Troyan sisters split time in goal for the Lions. Taylor Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) made the start and tallied five saves, making way for Mackenzie Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler), who made two stops.

Behrend returns to action on Tuesday against Hilbert. Game time is 7:15 p.m.