If you can’t score, then you won’t win. This was the strategy that came into play when The Rock took the field against Gannon University. Coming into the game, the Lady Knights sat at 4-1-2(4-1-2) and Coach Jessica Giegucz and her team knew they were going to be on attack a lot. The Rock’s steady defense shut down Gannon.
The game was broken open only 15 minutes in by The Rock’s Sydney Patrick, who scored her third goal of the season and of her career. Her goal gave the Rock a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
“I kind of warned the team before the game that our defense was going to have to have a solid performance, it was one of the pointers I made before the game, so I was very pleased with them,” Giegucz said.
In the game, the Green and White were actually out shot by the Lady Knights 13-12, but only four of Gannon’s shots were on target. The Rock defense was constantly bracing for attack, but they rarely let the ball through to goalkeeper Emma Yoder. Yoder ended the game with four saves to keep The Rock in front.
The game was quiet for the most part until the final few minutes, with both teams attacking, but neither having a real scoring opportunity. Gannon was able to slow down Rachel Edge a little, but Edge was still able to record an assist in the game.
Senior Megan Sikora put up two goals in the game. In her first three years, she’s only scored one goal. This was a big game for Sikora and not one she’ll soon forget.
“It felt great, and I really wanted to get one this season and I finally got it,” Sikora said. “We just really wanted to get back out there, and this is the end of the first half of the season, so we really wanted to finish out strong.
Edge’s assist came on the second of Sikora’s goals, and it gave The Rock a 3-0 lead. That score held to be the final score of the game.
