Middletown, Pa.– Harrisburg's Alyssa Crowley (Sunbury, Pa. / Shikellamy) broke through the visitor's back line twice to score her first two goals of the season on way to an important win over the Albright Lions.
The Blue and White played their best half of soccer so far this season and it did not take long to see the fruits of a team that was moving the ball in all directions smoothly up the field creating goal scoring opportunities. Crowley got things started when she finished off a Leann Kazawic (Stanhope, N.J. / Sussex Tech) near post cross just 13 minutes into the game.
Harrisburg needed a solid save or two from GK Mackenzie Gates (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) and some quality defensive work from center back Danell Engle (Halifax, Pa. / Halifax), but overall played quality soccer in the first half and held a major advantage in the possession clock.
The game evened up in the second half with both teams getting play end to end. Morgan Gates (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) then broke the game open with a left footed rip from 25 yards out to grab the Blue and White a 2-0 lead.
Albright responded in the 71st minute when a corner kick bounced off a Harrisburg player for an own goal. Minutes later Mackenzie Gates got an uncommon assist from the keeper position when her long punt bounced the length of the field before Crowley made it 3-1.
In the 73rd minute a lightning strike caused an hour delay and allowed Albright to regroup. They pushed hard to start the comeback and their efforts paid off in the 86th minute when they drew within a goal. Harrisburg was able to keep their composure and stayed behind the ball until the final whistle to hold on to the 3-2 win.
Harrisburg will travel to face the Washington College Thursday September 11th in hopes of starting their first winning streak of the year.