Lady Pioneers open Penn State Altoona Challenge Cup with win over Albright (Pa.)
Marietta advances to championship game for fourth straight year

Sept. 15, 2007
ALTOONA, Pa. — Coming into Saturday’s (Sept. 15) match-up, the Marietta College senior women had never lost a game in the Penn State-Altoona Challenge Cup. They kept their streak alive with a 3-0 win against Albright College (Pa.).

The win improves the Pioneers record to 2-2 on the year, while the Lions fall to 1-3.

Marietta started the scoring less than nine minutes in, when junior midfielder Allie Williams (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) headed home a throw-in from senior forward Marianne Siders (Belle W.Va./Riverside).

A minute and half later, midfielder Colby Cardwell (Anchorage, Alaska/Robert Service) volleyed a cross from Siders over Albright goalkeeper Jess Schmura to give the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead.

Senior forward Vanessa Nicholls (Cornwall, Ontario, Canada) capped the scoring, heading in a corner taken by fellow senior forward Kileen Lehman (Elyria/Elyria Catholic) at the 16:34 mark of the first half.

Freshman Helen Hetzel (Radnor/Buckeye Valley) recorded her first career shutout in her first career start. Hetzel finished with eight saves, while Schmura collected four saves.

The Pioneers finished with ten shots with seven on goal, while Albright finished with 15 shots with eight on goal.

Marietta plays in the championship game Sunday (Sept. 16) at 2 p.m. against the winner of the PSU-Altoona and Thiel match.