(MEDIA, Pa.) – Halley Shaffer's (Sr., Sunbury, Pa. / Line Mountain) midway through the second half held up as Wilson defeated Penn State Brandywine to increase its win streak to four games on Wednesday afternoon. It was the breakthrough the offense needed after the Phoenix defense locked in and suffocated any momentum the Nittany Lions tried to muster as they limited the hosts to just three shots on the day.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 1, Penn State Brandywine 0
Venue: Brandywine Field
Records: Wilson 6-6-2, 3-2-0 UE; Penn State Brandywine 6-4-1, 3-3-3 UE
How It Happened
- The Phoenix threatened offensively early as they fired off four shots in the opening 13 minutes with three of them needing saves from Brandywine keeper Jasmin Alvarez. Shaffer took two of those in the seventh and 13th minutes, respectively, while Becca Cordell (Sr., Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) had a solid chance just moments after Shaffer's first.
- Midway through the frame Brandywine was able to generate some offense which resulted in a corner kick, but no attempts came from it. Brandywine was able to get its first shot six minutes later, but the attempt went high and Wilson was able to counter after the ensuing goal kick with Shaffer getting another shot on goal which was saved. She added two more attempts in the 42nd minute with both going wide either way.
- After the break, Brandywine had perhaps its best chance as Maddie Pflug took a shot on the back end of a corner kick in the 50th, but the Phoenix defense prevented it from getting anywhere close to the target. From there, it was pretty much all Wilson. Annie Smith (Jr., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown), Kenzie Hermann (FY, Perkasie, Pa.), and Shaffer all had shots before Shaffer finally broke through in the 71st. After a Nittany Lions throw in, Wilson was able to intercept possession and allowed Atiya Jackson (Jr., Brunswick, Md. / Brunswick / Shippensburg) to find Shaffer on a breakaway up the center of the field. Despite a close encounter with Alvarez, Shaffer was able to flick it in for the goal. Brandywine had a chance to equalize five minutes later with the shot going right. It was the last shot the Nittany Lions were allowed the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Shaffer's score was the 10th of the season. Five of those have been game-winning goals which is currently tied for seventh in Division III.
- Shaffer now has 62 goals for her career and is currently fifth in the entirety of the NCAA among active players for goals scored. She's sixth in all of the NCAA for points with 132.
- Jackson's point streak increases to three games with her helper on the goal. It was her third of the season and second in as many games.
- Hermann, Breanna Oliviero (FY, Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser), Ella Schmoyer (FY, York, Pa. / West York), Gretchen Turner (Sr., York, Pa. / Northeastern), and Autumn DiCandilo (So., Harleysville, Pa. / Souderton) led an impressive back line that allowed just three shots by the Nittany Lions. None of them were on target and allowed Madison Ebersole (So., Big Pool, Md. / Clear Springs) to record the clean sheet for the second time this season.
Up Next
Four games remain in the regular season with three of them being conference games. A tough test lies ahead as the Phoenix head to the capital to take on Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
