November 15, 2024/midnight
Erie, Pa.,– The Golden Knight’s Women’s soccer team is heading to the PSAC Women’s Soccer Championship Final Four after a victory over Pitt–Johnstown that sends the No. 1 seeded Golden Knights to the semifinals.
In the first half, Gannon took the early lead with a goal by Jessie Watkins just seven minutes in. Brooklyn Respecki assisted her sixth goal of the season. Respecki would find a goal of her own scoring 13 minutes later to make it 2–0 Gannon. The Golden Knights outshot Pitt–Johnstown 14–3 at the half.
Any momentum built at halftime by the Mountain Cats immediately vanished as Watkins scored her second goal of the game off a feed by Respecki just 29 seconds into the second half. Gannon would not score the rest of the game, and neither would Pitt–Johnstown.
The Golden Knights reigned victorious with a 3–0 win to advance to the PSAC Final Four. This gives the Golden Knights their 13th shutout of the season due to the stellar play by goalkeeper
Morgan Sinan along with a strong defense that only allowed five total shots.
It has been a remarkable season for the Golden Knights, who have outscored their regular season opponents 42–6, outshot them by an average margin of 20 per game, and average 2.33 goals per contest. They have succeeded thanks to their top scorers Respecki, and Grace Emanuel, who both have 12 goals a piece.
Jessie Watkins and the rest of the Gannon Golden Knights soccer team (10–0–4) will now battle the Kutztown Golden Bears (7–3–6) on Friday November 15th for a spot in the PSAC Championship. The Golden Bears are coming off a huge win in their quarterfinal against West Chester. Meanwhile Gannon is all too familiar when the lights are brightest as this will be the school’s fourth–straight appearance in the Final Four. However, the team will look for its first PSAC championship after falling short to West Chester in the title game last fall.
