Ohio Wesleyan 1, Allegheny 0

Oct. 4, 2008

Senior forward Allie Cozzone (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute, lifting Ohio Wesleyan over Allegheny in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Roy Rike Field.

Cozzone chased down a pass from freshman midfielder Belle Madison (Charlevoix, Mich.) deep in the Allegheny end, turned inside, and, from a difficult angle, blistered a shot that eluded Gator keeper Emily Karr with 20:49 left in regulation time.

Allegheny had the first dangerous scoring chance of the game, that coming in the 15th minute. The Gators had a restart about 35 yards from the Ohio Wesleyan goal, and Alexa Gordon's header was grabbed by Bishop keeper Laura VanHoey (Rochester, Mich.).

The Gator defense turned in a stellar effort midway through the first half. Ohio Wesleyan had earned a corner kick, and after a couple of touches inside the box, senior forward Michelle Corbett (Dublin/Scioto) got an open look and fired a shot toward the left side, but Gator defender Jessica Boyle was guarding the left post and cleared the ball off the line. Senior forward Megan Quinn (Hilliard/Columbus School for Girls) got to the rebound, but her shot was high.

Early in the second half, the Bishops nearly broke on top when Cozzone centered the ball to freshman midfielder Lindsey Patton (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), whose shot appeared to be headed toward the back of the net, but Karr was able to cover the ball before it crossed the line.

Ohio Wesleyan's defense returned the favor in the 60th minute when Allegheny's Jillian Bolton took a shot after a Gator corner kick, but junior defender Megan Goodrich (Seven Hills/Laurel School) blocked the shot on the goal line.

The Bishops came within an eyelash of scoring in the 67th minute. After a Bishop corner kick, Madison's header hit the crossbar, bounced straight down and was cleared.

Cozzone's goal finally broke the scoreless tie, and the Bishop defense did not allow the Gators another dangerous chance in preserving the lead.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Allegheny, 16-12. VanHoey had 1 save in the Bishop goal, while Karr finished with 5 saves.

Box Score