Hughes Ties Record as Gators Clinch Playoff Spot

Apr 26, 2008

BOX SCORE

MEADVILLE, Pa. - Senior Ashley Hughes (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) tied the all-time Allegheny mark for goals in a career as the Gators (7-8, 4-2 NCAC) clinched the final spot in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament with a 14-9 victory over Kenyon (9-5, 3-3 NCAC) on Saturday.

Hughes, who already owns the school records for assists (52) and points (174), will get another opportunity in the conference tournament to break the school record for goals (123).

The Gators jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 15:36 of play as Laura Hoch (Moon Township, Pa./Sewickley Academy) scored twice for the Blue and Gold. Kenyon came back with two scores of their own to cut the lead to 5-2 but the Gators were able to end the half on a 2-0 run with goals from Jensen Paterson (Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School) and Lana Cannon (Peaks Island, Maine/Portland).

After the teams exchanged goals to open the second half, Kenyon got to within three, at 9-6, following an Amanda Drummond score with 18:27 remaining. Allegheny responded with three consecutive goals from Hughes, Paterson, and Abby Silvester (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic) to make the score 12-6 en route to the 14-9 Allegheny victory.

The Gators head to the conference tournament as the #4 seed and will play at the #1 seed on Friday.

Paterson (pictured above) totaled six points on four goals and two assists while Cailin Harvey (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit), Katie Murphy (Ventia, Pa./Peters Township), and Katie Damico (Lompoc, Calif./Cabrillo) each recorded three ground balls. Cannon won three draw controls while Damico and Meg Grossman (Lexington, Ky./Sayre School) each totaled two caused turnovers.

In goal, Leslie Stange picked up her 26th career win with a five-save effort.

Saturday’s contest was the final home game in the careers of Cannon, Damico, Hughes, Hoch, and Stange. The NCAC Tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 2-3 with the first three spots yet to be finalized.

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