MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Juniata Field Hockey team were left scoreless in their first away contest of the 2022 season as they were defeated by the Allegheny College Gators 2-0 on Wednesday evening. 

Allegheny opened the first quarter with four shots in the first eight minutes, with three of the shots forcing a save from goalkeeper Brittney McMullen. Four Juniata shots and two penalty corners in the final moments of the quarter did not produce a goal for a scoreless game heading into the second quarter. 

A blocked Brooke Franke shot opened the second quarter and was swiftly followed by a McMullen save and Allegheny's first penalty corner. The Gators converted in the 19th minute for the first goal of the game. Scoring chances were rare for both sides for the rest of the second quarter to give Allegheny a 1-0 advantage into halftime.  

The third quarter saw only three shots total, which included a shot on goal from Kalee Rothermel, and an Allegheny shot that forced McMullen's fifth save. 

Tess Ledeboer opened the fourth quarter with a shot on target moments before the second successful penalty corner for Allegheny in the 48th minute to draw a two-goal advantage over the Eagles. With time waning, Sydney Witter registered two shots on target in the 54th minute that could not find the back of the net to leave the final score at 2-0 and a third-straight Eagles defeat to open 2022. 

McMullen ended the game with six saves and two goals allowed. She leaves Allegheny with a .750 goal percentage for the season through three games. 

Top chance creators for Juniata included Rothermel (three shots, one on goal), Ledeboer (three shots, one on goal), and Witter (two shots on goal).  

The Eagles continue their trek for the first win of 2022 on Sunday, September 11, as they play the University of Lynchburg Hornets at the neutral site of Ursinus College. The two sides have only met once, with the Hornets taking a 5-3 victory in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.