CRESSON, Pa. — The Mount Aloysius College women's soccer team delivered one of its most important performances of the season on Tuesday, October 27, defeating Penn State Altoona 2-0 at Kelly Field to secure a spot in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) playoffs.
The Mounties rose to the occasion in their regular-season finale, scoring two first-half goals while delivering a strong defensive performance to earn a crucial conference victory. With the win, Mount Aloysius finish the regular season with a 2-12-2 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play, securing the No. 6 seed in the AMCC Tournament.
Mount Aloysius wasted little time establishing momentum, opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Paiton Campbell (Roaring Spring, Pa., Central) stepped up to take a penalty kick and converted the opportunity at the 6:39 mark, giving the Mounties an early 1-0 advantage.
The Mounties continued to build on their early momentum, finding the back of the net again just ten minutes later.
In the 17th minute, Abigail Solano (Spencerport, N.Y., Spencerport) doubled the advantage with a goal off an assist from Becca Fetchko (Windber, Pa., Richland), extending the Mount Aloysius lead to 2-0. The goal provided the Mounties with valuable breathing room as they continued their push toward a postseason berth.
With a two-goal advantage, Mount Aloysius turned its attention to maintaining control of the match. The Mounties' defense remained organized throughout the opening half, while goalkeeper Katie Scott (Mineral Point, Pa. , Central Cambria) delivered several key saves to keep Penn State Altoona off the scoreboard.
One of the biggest moments of the afternoon came in the 19th minute when Scott stopped a penalty kick, preserving the Mounties' two-goal advantage. Scott continued to anchor the defensive effort, recording four first-half saves as Mount Aloysius entered halftime leading 2-0.
The Mounties returned from the break determined to finish the job and secure their place in the conference tournament.
Solano continued to provide an offensive spark, recording a shot on goal early in the second half. Kaylee Dowdell (Windber, PA, Windber) and Brooke Thomas (Altoona, Pa., Altoona) also contributed scoring opportunities as Mount Aloysius looked to extend its lead.
Defensively, the Mounties maintained their composure throughout the final 45 minutes, limiting Penn State Altoona to just two second-half shots. Scott added two more saves after halftime, helping preserve the shutout and secure the victory.
Solano led the Mount Aloysius attack with four shots, including three on goal and one goal, while Campbell contributed two shots, both on target, and the opening goal. Dowdell added two shots, including one on goal, while Fetchko recorded the assist on Solano's goal.
Mount Aloysius finished the match with 10 total shots, including six on goal, while holding Penn State Altoona to nine shots.
Scott delivered an outstanding performance between the posts, playing all 90 minutes and recording six saves, including the crucial first-half penalty kick stop, to earn the shutout.
The victory marked a significant accomplishment for the Mounties, whose determination and resilience throughout the season helped them earn a place in the AMCC postseason. With their playoff hopes on the line, Mount Aloysius responded with timely scoring, disciplined defending, and a complete team effort.
Mounties Secure No. 6 Seed, Set for Playoff Rematch
With Tuesday's victory, Mount Aloysius officially clinched the No. 6 seed in the 2026 AMCC Women's Soccer Tournament.
The Mounties will travel to Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, October 31, where they will face No. 3 seed Penn State Altoona in the first round of the conference playoffs.
The matchup sets up an immediate rematch between the two programs, just four days after Mount Aloysius earned its 2-0 victory at Kelly Field.
After closing the regular season with an important conference win, the Mounties will look to carry that momentum into Saturday's postseason contest as they begin their pursuit of an AMCC championship.
