PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Eight different players scored to lead the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team past La Roche 8-1 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions (13-4, 8-0 AMCC) matched their highest offensive output this season with eight goals to capture the AMCC regular-season championship and secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming playoffs.
Behrend handed the Redhawks (7-7-1, 4-3-1 AMCC) their largest loss this year to put them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference.
The Lions scored five goals in the first 25 minutes of the game. Jordan Oberlander (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) was the first to strike off a header from a free kick by Caitlin Caldwell (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon) in the ninth minute.
Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) smacked a shot from 12 yards out that hit the post and in at the 11:17 mark, and 30 seconds later Leah Morra (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills) finished a feed from Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley). Bilka beat a defender in the box and dropped it off for Morra to send far post on a one touch to make it 3-0.
Laura Schaefer (Erie, PA/General McLane) was able to get Behrend a 4-0 lead on a cross from Sami Lowry (Pittsburgh, PA/Pine-Richland), before Belack sent a pass across the box for Bilka to finish at the 24:10 mark and a five-goal cushion.
La Roche was able to stop the bleeding with a goal by Vanessa Ceravolo in the 33rd minute.
The Lions scored their sixth goal and final of the first half on an unassisted tally from Megan Schwartz (Shaler, PA/Shaler) with 10:36 left to play.
Behrend added two more goals in the second half. Caldwell and Angela Baranowski (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) scored almost a minute apart for the 8-1 margin. Baranowski's goal was her first of her collegiate career.
The Lions held a 35-10 shot advantage and Mackenzie Troyan (Butler, PA/Butler) picked up the win in the net behind four saves.
Behrend returns to action on Tuesday against Medaille. Game time is 5 p.m.
