ERIE, Pa. - After winning the regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division title in 2008, this year’s edition of the Lady Knight soccer team came into 2009 placed firmly on opposing teams’ radar screens. With a wealth of underclassmen seeing playing time, a slow start ensued before Gannon righted itself and qualified for its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance with a 10-win campaign.
GU had to replace six seniors, including Courtney Rowan, the third-leading point scorer in program history. With eight freshmen or sophomores in the regular starting lineup, the Knights had their ups and downs. After a season-opening win over West Virginia Wesleyan, Gannon dropped its next three contests. All three losses came in the league, quickly putting the Knights in a hole. The team answered with a six-match unbeaten streak, including a 4-2 victory over Mercyhurst on October 2. The win was GU’s first in the programs’ 27-match history.
Gannon lost its next two contests and then rallied with a four-match win streak. The Knights defeated then-#20 California (Pa.) 2-1 on October 20 in that stretch.
Breanne Radin (Lockwood, N.Y./Spencer-Van Etten) scored both goals in the win. However, the Vulcans exacted revenge with a 2-0 PSAC quarterfinal win over GU on November 3.
The Knights received a bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament, where they faced Indiana (Pa.) in the opening round November 13. The teams played to a scoreless tie before IUP won 5-4 on penalty kicks.
GU finished 2009 with an overall record of 10-8-1. They went 8-5-1 in the PSAC. Freshman
Tenyka Francique (Brampton, Ontario/International) scored 12 goals and recorded four assists on her way to being honored as PSAC freshman of the year. First-team all-PSAC forward
Amanda Sharbaugh (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) scored 10 goals and handed out a team-high seven assists. Radin added five scores and five helpers.
Sabrina Chirco (Brampton, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) started every match of the season in goal, recording a 1.28 goals against average and four shutouts. Senior defender
Laura Piazza (Brampton, Ontario/Cardinal Leger S.S.) had another strong season and was named first-team all-conference for the third consecutive season. She had the game-winning goal in the win against Mercyhurst.
In coach Colin Petersen’s eighth season at the helm of the Lady Knight program, GU had its second consecutive campaign with at least 10 wins and qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the second time in two years. Petersen became the winningest coach in program history with a 4-1 victory over Wheeling Jesuit September 29. The win was Petersen’s 50th in his Gannon career. He passed Jim Nestor, who won 49 matches from 1995-1999 at GU. Petersen has now won 55 times in his career.
The Knights will lose five seniors, including Chirco, Piazza, and Radin, from the 2009 team. With players like Francique, Sharbaugh and
Jordan Rickan (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) returning with another year of experience, Gannon should have a solid foundation for another postseason berth in 2010.