In the late minutes of the game, the Trojans finally broke through after a corner kick by Melissa Devore found its way back to Devore and amid the mad scramble in the box, the senior midfielder laid a strike into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Trojans life.

Now only trailing 2-1, Southwestern became energized and was pressing Allegany-Limestone for the equalizer. However, the next goal did not come for the Trojans, rather it was the final dagger by the Gators as Olivia Paterniti found the back of the net for the second time giving Allegany-Limestone a 3-1 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association West Division victory at Charles A. Lawson Field.

After the first half of play it looked like Southwestern would be the team to come out on top. The Trojans came out fast and furious with the bulk of the shots and scoring chances in the first half. The Gators defense did a good job of not giving up anything easy and when shots did make it through and on net Allegany-Limestone goalkeeper Kelsey Riordan answered the call.

The best chances for Allegany-Limestone (3-1-0, 3-0-0) came off the counter-attack, while Southwestern attempted to work off passing and possession. Southwestern generated some of its best chances getting the ball out on the wing and then attempting to send passes back into the middle for its strikers to get behind the last line of defense. A few of those golden opportunities did break through for the Trojans, but they were either turned aside by Riordan or missed the mark for a goal kick.

Southwestern’s Lucy Brown battles Allegany-Limestone’s Chessa Klice for possession during Wednesday’s game. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“You always want to capitalize on those opportunities to set the tone,” Southwestern head coach Derek Houser said about the Trojans early opportunities. “We did as far as the play, but if it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard then those things don’t always materialize at the end of the game. We came out the way we wanted to play, it’s just about putting in a couple of those balls in early and changing the way that the game flows from that point on.”

At the end of the first half Allegany-Limestone had its best chances on the counter-attack, capitalizing off of defensive miscues to get an opportunity in the box that was turned aside by Reece Beaver making one of her five saves on the day.

Heading into halftime the game was scoreless despite Southwestern having plenty of chances.

“For them that first half was probably the best that they could hope for,” Houser said. “They came out energized, they knew a couple of things maybe they could attack and when they got those looks they didn’t miss. That’s the difference in the game, they were able to put those balls in when they got good opportunities.”

Allegany-Limestone was a different team in the second half as it generated more chances putting pressure on the Trojans’ defense. The Gators broke the tie when Paterniti won a race to the ball behind the Trojans’ back line and stepped around Beaver for a breakaway goal.

Southwestern’s Melissa Devore takes a corner kick during the Trojans’ CCAA West Division game against Allegany-Limestone on Wednesday at Charles A. Lawson Field. P-J photo by Christian Storms

After scoring, the Gators began pressing more and saw more opportunities arise from Southwestern miscues. Payton Fortuna scored the second goal for Allegany-Limestone, this time capitalizing on a turnover by the Southwestern defense.

Despite the score, Southwestern didn’t give up its attack as the Trojans continued to put pressure on the offensive side of the field. The Gators defense did a much better job in the second half taking away space, but a few times the Trojans were able to break through.

Prior to the lone Southwestern goal, Brynne Conley dribbled past the Gators defense and took a strike that went past the diving Riordan, smacked off the post that stayed loose in the box, and was kicked away. Devore was able to get one past Riordan in the fray of the corner kick, but that would be all as Riordan made 10 saves in the 3-1 victory.

“It’s always difficult when you play quality keepers,” Houser said about Riordan and the Gators’ defense. “You’ve got to make sure that you’re on your ‘A’ game because those balls that sometimes squeak in aren’t going to find their way. You’re not going to get easy goals against that team, they play too hard and they’re very well-coached.”

Southwestern (1-2-1, 1-1-1) will attempt to get back in the win column on Saturday at Fredonia.