Women's soccer playoff preview
GREENSBURG, Pa: The Pitt-Greensburg women's soccer team is back in the AMCC playoffs in 2015, after losing out on a three-way tiebreaker a season ago and missing out on postseason play.
After an impressive 6-1-2 performance during the regular season, the Bobcats enter the conference tournament as the #3 seed and will host #6 Penn State Altoona in the AMCC's 1
st Round Matchup.
Fourth-year Head Coach Chuck Wigle's unit battled injuries throughout the season, losing several key members for large portions or the entirety of the 2015 season. Yet through it all, the Bobcats find themselves hosting a home playoff game for the 3
rd time in four seasons, with a legitimate chance to win it all.
Their only AMCC loss this year came in double overtime against a gritty La Roche College team. The Bobcats then went on to knock off the AMCC's top two teams, winning 1-0 at home over both Penn St. Behrend (#2 seed) and Pitt-Bradford (#1 seed).
UPG is led by freshman standout
Kayleen Schwegler (Aliquippa, PA, Hopewell), who's 13 goals are 2
nd most in the league and the most by a Pitt-Greensburg player since Tiffanni Downey netted 12 goals in 2013. Her 5 game winning goals lead the AMCC and currently rank 2
nd All-Time in school history behind Melissa Wiggins, who had 7 game-winners back in 2002.
Down the stretch, however, it was the Bobcat defense who stood tall behind goalkeeper
Shannon Edwards (Fayetteville, PA, Chambersburg). Anchored by senior
Caitlin Welsh (Penn Township, PA, Penn-Trafford) and sophomore
Camille Hickman (Pittsburgh, PA, Penn Hills), UPG surrendered only 3 goals over their final 7 games, after giving up 31 in their first 9 contests. All-Conference member and Captain,
Courtney Carroll (Irwin, PA, Hempfield), along with freshman
Brianna Burgunder (Moon Township, PA, Moon), have helped secure the midfield for the Bobcats while producing consistent scoring chances on the offensive end.
Pitt-Greensburg will enter Saturday's contest having gone 5-0-2 in their final 7 games, including a 1-1 tie to Saturday's opponent, Penn State Altoona, back on October 13
th.
The Lions edged Mount Aloysius 2-0 in the AMCC regular season finale to earn the #6 seed, having lost 3 of their final 4 contests. Altoona is led by junior forward Brittany Allison with 6 goals and 12 points on the season. Lion's goalkeeper Mackenzie Strubhar leads the AMCC with a league-low 17 goals allowed.
At Ridilla Field this season the Bobcats were 4-2-1, while the Lions were just 1-8-1 on the road.
Pitt-Greensburg is aiming for their first AMCC Tournament victory since a 1-0, overtime win against Medaille College back on October 29
th, 2005 at Ridilla Field.
The winner of Saturday's contest will move on to face #2 seeded Penn State Behrend in Erie on Wednesday November 4
th.
