CLARION, Pa. --- In the final home match of the 2024 season for the Golden Eagles soccer team, Clarion lost in a shutout to fifth-ranked Gannon, falling 4-0. The Golden Knights used a strong offensive attack to outshoot Clarion by a 25-6 margin, and Gannon earned eight corner kicks on the night, capitalizing on one of them.
Â
Grace Emanuel opened the scoring early in the first half, capitalizing on a quick play on a throw-in. Brooklyn Respecki used her head to back-tap the ball to Emanuel, who then beat senior
Alex Velez to put Gannon on the board. Emanuel added a second goal in the second half.
Â
Clarion's defense survived a barrage of shot attempts by Gannon throughout the first half. With eight minutes remaining in the half,
Marisa Colondrillo attempted to capitalize on a Golden Knight turnover, racing past the defenders and firing a shot that was stopped by a diving Morgan Sinan.
Nicole Brown set up for a corner kick and lofted a perfect pass to a hard-charging
Tessa Heffron, who got a solid attempt on goal but headed the ball just to the right of the net.
Â
Gannon responded to the threat by adding a pair of goals to end the first half, extending their lead to 3-0. Both goals involved Respecki. At the 4:41 mark, she logged her second assist of the game, sending a perfect corner kick to Paige Taylor, who finished with a goal. Respecki then added a goal of her own, slicing through the Clarion defense for her 11th of the season.
Â
After Gannon extended their lead to 4-0 with Emanuel's second goal,
Olivia Strother provided a spark for the Golden Eagles' offense, firing off a pair of shots. With just 13 minutes left in the game, Strother tried to turn the corner on a Gannon defender but saw her shot blocked. On the ensuing Golden Eagle corner kick, Strother and Gannon goalkeeper Olivia Rosenberger collided, sending Strother's shot attempt wide right of the goal. Clarion's last chance to put points on the board came when
Chelsea Bulger caught the Gannon defense flat-footed, beating them down the field. However, her shot attempt curled left, away from the net to keep the Golden Eagles scoreless.
Â