A goal in the 63rd minute by Hannah Zangara lifted Allegheny College to a 1-0 victory over Denison in Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference opener at Barclay-Thomsen Field in Granville, Ohio.

The Big Red controlled play in the first half, outshooting the Gators 12-2 over the 45-minute period. DU came close to breaking the 0-0 tie multiple times, but stops by Allegheny goalie Gabby Curtis kept it a scoreless affair. In the 13th minute, sophomore captain Anne Denz sent a cross into the box from the left side that found sophomore Ashlyn Flaherty. Flaherty one-touched a pass back to junior captain Andrea Witte who lofted a shot towards the upper right 90. Curtis waited until the last second to jump and snag the ball out of the air.

In the 22nd minute, junior Logan Berlet sent a deep cross from the right side towards Denz, who was stationed at the far post. Denz redirected the ball on the fly towards the goal, but a diving play by Curtis kept the Big Red off the board once again. Denison's final quality opportunity came with less than two minutes to play when senior Caitlin Cheverine's shot off a Keara Kilbane cross went just left of the goal.

After struggling in the first half, Allegheny came out of the intermission with a new fire that showed in their offensive third. In the first minute and 54 seconds of the period, the Gators attempted three shots that required saves by both Jenny Herold and the Big Red backline. Herold stopped the first two attempts, while a strong play at the goal line by Allison Vilsack prevented Jessie Thiessen from scoring.

However, Allegheny finally broke through for the game's first goal when Zangara scored from roughly 10 yards out off an Olivia Cushman cross at 62:01. The Big Red started to apply pressure in their offensive third and nearly came up with the equalizer in the 70th minute. Sophomore Jacquie Graham sent a low cross the just skipped over the foot of Witte in front of the net. The ball continued through the box to Denz who sent a shot just wide of the goal. At 74:52, Berlet lifted a deep shot towards the net that was punched over the crossbar by Curtis. Freshman Tanzen Angert recorded DU's final attempt 15 seconds later, a header that was corralled by Curtis.

Denison finished with a 17-15 advantage in shots, despite being outshot 13-5 in the second half. The Big Red attempted twice as many corners at the Gators (4-2), while Allegheny was whistled for 10 fouls compared to just six infractions by DU.

Freshman Grace Murray paced the Big Red with three shots (two on goal), while Flaherty, Cheverine, Denz, Angert and Meg Wozniak all had two attempts. Herold made four of the team's five saves in 90 minutes of play.

Thiessen logged a game-high five shots, while four players, including the goal scorer Zangara, registered two shots. Curtis finished the game with eight stops.

DU falls to 6-4 and 0-1 in the NCAC, while Allegheny improves to 8-3 and 1-0 in conference play. The Big Red returns to action next Saturday at Hiram. Match time is slated for 1 p.m.