Gannon University Women's Soccer

Petersen begins his 17th season with the Gannon soccer program and 15th as the head womens soccer coach in 2016. Petersen, who has also spent time in a dual position as an assistant for the mens program, was hired as the seventh head coach in the history of the womens program on February 13, 2002. Petersen is the winningest and longest-tenured coach in the 29-year history of the Gannon womens soccer program. As the only coach in school history to lead the program for more than five years, Petersen has a school-record 118 career coaching victories. His career winning percentage is second only to Jim Nestors .527 mark. The Gannon womens soccer program reached the apex last season with arguably its best season in school history. The Lady Knights went 17-1 during the regular season to capture the top seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament before finishing 18-3 overall. The program became the third PSAC squad to win 17 matches in a row, ascending to the No. 1 position in four consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Polls. It represented the first No. 1 ranking in program history. Petersen's club spent two weeks as the only team at any level of the NCAA without a loss or tie, before falling at East Stroudsburg in the regular-season finale. Gannon shattered the school record for victories, surpassing the previous record set by the 2012 team that finished 13-4-2. The Lady Knights hosted the PSAC Final Four and first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever last year. As a result, Petersen was named 2015 NSCAA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. He is the first women's soccer coach in school history to be named a regional coach of the year. Petersen also took home PSAC Coach of the Year honors, giving him two career conference honors. The veteran coach was also named PSAC Coach of the Year during Gannon's first year as a conference member in 2008. Gannon has produced a .500 record or better during seven of the last eight seasons under Petersen. The Lady Knights have also qualified for the postseason seven times during their eight years in the PSAC, including the last five years. Petersens club made a spectacular run at the end of the 2014 regular season to reach the postseason for the fourth consecutive year at the time. The Lady Knights recorded must-wins during their last two contests against Indiana (Pa.) and Clarion to qualify on the last day of the regular season. The 2014 squad finished 9-9 overall and 9-7 in league play. The 2013 season also ended with a solid playoff run. The Lady Knights opened the PSAC Tournament with a 1-0 upset at nationally-ranked Slippery Rock during the quarterfinals. The victory spurred Gannon into the conference semifinals where it eventually fell to West Chester. One of the best campaigns in school history unfolded in 2012. The Lady Knights went 13-4-2 overall and 10-3-1 in league play. In the process, Gannon set school single-season records at the time for victories (13), shutouts (12), fewest goals allowed (12) and fewest losses (4). The squad also achieved the highest national ranking in school history at the time when it was tabbed seventh in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll. Gannon finished third in the PSAC regular-season standings, before falling in the conference quarterfinals via penalty kicks after battling to a scoreless tie against East Stroudsburg. The Lady Knights went on to make the second NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in program history. In 2011, several school records fell as the Lady Knights finished 9-5-4 overall and 6-4-4 within conference play. Gannon set a new mark for consecutive matches without a loss, going six matches from October 1-15 without a defeat. During that time span, the Lady Knights also set a school record with four consecutive shutouts. Conversely, the team was only shut out three times in 2011. It tied the school record for fewest times shut out in a season. The Gannon womens soccer program made history in 2009, advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time. The Lady Knights battled Indiana (Pa.) to a scoreless tie, before the Crimson Hawks advanced to the second round via penalty kicks. The squad finished 10-7-2 overall and placed fourth in the PSAC Western Division with an 8-5-1 conference slate. The program has been on a constant upswing ever since Petersens early seasons. In 2008, Gannon won the PSAC Western Division during its first season in the league. The Lady Knights entered the postseason as the top seed and had the right to host the conference Final Four, but was upset by Indiana (Pa.) during the first round. The squad finished 11-6-2 overall and 9-3-2 in conference play, equaling the second-highest victory total in school history and fell one shy of the school record. The program reached double digits in victories for the first time since 1999. As a result, Petersen was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year. Petersen originally improved the programs record for three consecutive seasons from 2003-06, finishing the 2006 campaign with a 9-10-1 mark. The Lady Knights were on the verge of their first winning season since 1999, but could not hold onto a 2-0 halftime lead against Mercyhurst during the season finale. In 2007, Gannon barely missed the .500 mark once again at 7-8-2 despite opening the campaign with seven victories during its first nine matches. Individually, several Lady Knights have caught the eye of soccer experts during the last few campaigns. Gannon players have received all-region accolades 39 times and all-conference honors 34 times during the last 10 seasons. Mani Brueckner has set herself apart during her recent four-year collegiate career. She was named PSAC Player of the Year and Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year as a freshman, sophomore and senior. In 2012, Brueckner became only the second student-athlete in the history of the PSAC to be named both the PSAC Athlete and Freshman of the Year during the same season. Brueckner also became the first womens soccer student-athlete in school history to be named Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year in 2012, before repeating in 2013 and 2015. In addition to being named to the Daktronics and NSCAA All-Atlantic Region first teams as a freshman, she earned Gannons first-ever NSCAA womens soccer all-america honor with a second-team selection. Brueckner was the second student-athlete in program history to earn Daktronics all-america honors, being named to the third team as a freshman. She was named to the Daktronics All-America third team as a sophomore. Brueckner later earned NSCAA and Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA) All-America first-team honors as a senior. Seven all-region accolades were given to Gannon student-athletes in 2012. Brueckner, Sarah Deck and Sammy Valloud were honored by both Daktronics and the NSCAA. Mary Reilly also received all-region status from the NSCAA. In 2014, Brueckner earned first-team honors from Daktronics and the NSCAA. Olivia Augustyniak, Brueckner and Valloud were all named to the NSCAA and CCA All-Region first teams last season while Kaitlyn Kissell added an NSCAA All-Region second-team award. Gannon dominated the PSAC major postseason awards during its first two years in the league. In 2008, Courtney Rowan was named Athlete of the Year while Amanda Sharbaugh earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Tenyka Francique was named Freshman of the Year in 2009. Petersens program cleaned house with the PSAC awards last season as Brueckner and Augustyniak were named PSAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Rowan became the first womens soccer player in school history to earn all-america honors in 2008, being named to the Daktronics honorable-mention team. Rowan, Sharbaugh and Laura Piazza were also named to all-region teams that year. Piazza and Sharbaugh both earned all-region accolades in 2009. Sharbaugh made it four consecutive years when she was named to both the Daktronics and NSCAA all-region first teams in 2011. Justine Rodrigues also earned all-region accolades from both organizations in 2011, as well as Katie Urban being named to one of the NSCAA teams. Piazza and Rowan were named to the Daktronics All-Great Lakes region team after the 2007 season. Jamie Shadd, Colleen Schwarz, Chantelle Both and Piazza landed spots on the all-region teams in 2006. It marked Gannons first all-region selections since 1998. In 2005, Gannon had a two-match improvement, finishing 7-11-1. It was the programs most victories since the 2000 club went 8-10-2. Individually, Rowan was named to the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) second team. She became Gannons first all-conference selection since Joy Pelger was honored in 2001. Gannon has been unbelievably good in the classroom during Petersens tenure. The Lady Knights captured the inaugural PSAC Womens Soccer Top Team GPA Award in 2011 as its 3.505 grade point average was the best among all PSAC programs. Twelve Lady Knights were named PSAC Scholar-Athletes in 2015. In all, 139 all-academic conference awards have been handed out to Gannon womens soccer student-athletes under Petersens guidance during the last 12 seasons. Sharbaugh and Reilly became the first womens soccer student-athletes in school history to be named Academic All-Americans in 2011. Sharbaugh was named to the Capital One Academic All-America first team while Reilly landed a spot on the third team. The duo joined Urban on the Capital One Academic All-District II first team. Reilly became a two-time Academic All-American with a first-team selection in 2012. She was also named a PSAC Fall Top 10 Winner. In 2013, Brueckner joined the programs Academic All-America group with a second-team selection. She and Michelle Genetin were named to the Capital One Academic All-District first team earlier that year. Brueckner became a three-time Academic All-American with a third-team honor in 2014 and first-team award last season. Prior to 2002, Petersen was an assistant under former head coach Rob van Rheenen for two seasons. The mens program posted a 13-21 record during those two years, while the womens program was 4-13-1 during its only season under van Rheenen in 2001. Petersen is a very familiar name to Gannon fans. The Vereeniging, South Africa, native was a four-year starter for the Golden Knights from 1993-96. Gannon advanced to the NCAA Final Four during his freshman season in 1993, losing to Southern Connecticut State in the semifinals. Petersen also worked in the Gannon Admissions Office for two years (2000-01). The former Gannon great earned all-region accolades as a student-athlete in 1993 and 1996. He was also named to the All-GLIAC first team during Gannons first two seasons in the league in 1995 and 1996. The forward is 11th all-time at Gannon in points (92), 11th in goals (35) and 13th in assists (22). His best season came during the 1993 campaign, when he recorded 13 goals, six assists and 32 points. Colin Petersen Head Women's Soccer Coach Former Gannon soccer great Colin Petersen begins his 17th season with the Gannon soccer program and 15th as the head womens soccer coach in 2016. Petersen, who has also spent time in a dual position as an assistant for the mens program, was hired as the seventh head coach in the history of the womens program on February 13, 2002. Petersen is the winningest and longest-tenured coach in the 29-year history of the Gannon womens soccer program. As the only coach in school history to lead the program for more than five years, Petersen has a school-record 118 career coaching victories. His career winning percentage is second only to Jim Nestors .527 mark. The Gannon womens soccer program reached the apex last season with arguably its best season in school history. The Lady Knights went 17-1 during the regular season to capture the top seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament before finishing 18-3 overall. The program became the third PSAC squad to win 17 matches in a row, ascending to the No. 1 position in four consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Polls. It represented the first No. 1 ranking in program history. Petersen's club spent two weeks as the only team at any level of the NCAA without a loss or tie, before falling at East Stroudsburg in the regular-season finale. Gannon shattered the school record for victories, surpassing the previous record set by the 2012 team that finished 13-4-2. The Lady Knights hosted the PSAC Final Four and first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever last year. As a result, Petersen was named 2015 NSCAA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. He is the first women's soccer coach in school history to be named a regional coach of the year. Petersen also took home PSAC Coach of the Year honors, giving him two career conference honors. The veteran coach was also named PSAC Coach of the Year during Gannon's first year as a conference member in 2008. Gannon has produced a .500 record or better during seven of the last eight seasons under Petersen. The Lady Knights have also qualified for the postseason seven times during their eight years in the PSAC, including the last five years. Petersens club made a spectacular run at the end of the 2014 regular season to reach the postseason for the fourth consecutive year at the time. The Lady Knights recorded must-wins during their last two contests against Indiana (Pa.) and Clarion to qualify on the last day of the regular season. The 2014 squad finished 9-9 overall and 9-7 in league play. The 2013 season also ended with a solid playoff run. The Lady Knights opened the PSAC Tournament with a 1-0 upset at nationally-ranked Slippery Rock during the quarterfinals. The victory spurred Gannon into the conference semifinals where it eventually fell to West Chester. One of the best campaigns in school history unfolded in 2012. The Lady Knights went 13-4-2 overall and 10-3-1 in league play. In the process, Gannon set school single-season records at the time for victories (13), shutouts (12), fewest goals allowed (12) and fewest losses (4). The squad also achieved the highest national ranking in school history at the time when it was tabbed seventh in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll. Gannon finished third in the PSAC regular-season standings, before falling in the conference quarterfinals via penalty kicks after battling to a scoreless tie against East Stroudsburg. The Lady Knights went on to make the second NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in program history. In 2011, several school records fell as the Lady Knights finished 9-5-4 overall and 6-4-4 within conference play. Gannon set a new mark for consecutive matches without a loss, going six matches from October 1-15 without a defeat. During that time span, the Lady Knights also set a school record with four consecutive shutouts. Conversely, the team was only shut out three times in 2011. It tied the school record for fewest times shut out in a season. The Gannon womens soccer program made history in 2009, advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time. The Lady Knights battled Indiana (Pa.) to a scoreless tie, before the Crimson Hawks advanced to the second round via penalty kicks. The squad finished 10-7-2 overall and placed fourth in the PSAC Western Division with an 8-5-1 conference slate. The program has been on a constant upswing ever since Petersens early seasons. In 2008, Gannon won the PSAC Western Division during its first season in the league. The Lady Knights entered the postseason as the top seed and had the right to host the conference Final Four, but was upset by Indiana (Pa.) during the first round. The squad finished 11-6-2 overall and 9-3-2 in conference play, equaling the second-highest victory total in school history and fell one shy of the school record. The program reached double digits in victories for the first time since 1999. As a result, Petersen was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year. Petersen originally improved the programs record for three consecutive seasons from 2003-06, finishing the 2006 campaign with a 9-10-1 mark. The Lady Knights were on the verge of their first winning season since 1999, but could not hold onto a 2-0 halftime lead against Mercyhurst during the season finale. In 2007, Gannon barely missed the .500 mark once again at 7-8-2 despite opening the campaign with seven victories during its first nine matches. Individually, several Lady Knights have caught the eye of soccer experts during the last few campaigns. Gannon players have received all-region accolades 39 times and all-conference honors 34 times during the last 10 seasons. Mani Brueckner has set herself apart during her recent four-year collegiate career. She was named PSAC Player of the Year and Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year as a freshman, sophomore and senior. In 2012, Brueckner became only the second student-athlete in the history of the PSAC to be named both the PSAC Athlete and Freshman of the Year during the same season. Brueckner also became the first womens soccer student-athlete in school history to be named Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year in 2012, before repeating in 2013 and 2015. In addition to being named to the Daktronics and NSCAA All-Atlantic Region first teams as a freshman, she earned Gannons first-ever NSCAA womens soccer all-america honor with a second-team selection. Brueckner was the second student-athlete in program history to earn Daktronics all-america honors, being named to the third team as a freshman. She was named to the Daktronics All-America third team as a sophomore. Brueckner later earned NSCAA and Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA) All-America first-team honors as a senior. Seven all-region accolades were given to Gannon student-athletes in 2012. Brueckner, Sarah Deck and Sammy Valloud were honored by both Daktronics and the NSCAA. Mary Reilly also received all-region status from the NSCAA. In 2014, Brueckner earned first-team honors from Daktronics and the NSCAA. Olivia Augustyniak, Brueckner and Valloud were all named to the NSCAA and CCA All-Region first teams last season while Kaitlyn Kissell added an NSCAA All-Region second-team award. Gannon dominated the PSAC major postseason awards during its first two years in the league. In 2008, Courtney Rowan was named Athlete of the Year while Amanda Sharbaugh earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Tenyka Francique was named Freshman of the Year in 2009. Petersens program cleaned house with the PSAC awards last season as Brueckner and Augustyniak were named PSAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Rowan became the first womens soccer player in school history to earn all-america honors in 2008, being named to the Daktronics honorable-mention team. Rowan, Sharbaugh and Laura Piazza were also named to all-region teams that year. Piazza and Sharbaugh both earned all-region accolades in 2009. Sharbaugh made it four consecutive years when she was named to both the Daktronics and NSCAA all-region first teams in 2011. Justine Rodrigues also earned all-region accolades from both organizations in 2011, as well as Katie Urban being named to one of the NSCAA teams. Piazza and Rowan were named to the Daktronics All-Great Lakes region team after the 2007 season. Jamie Shadd, Colleen Schwarz, Chantelle Both and Piazza landed spots on the all-region teams in 2006. It marked Gannons first all-region selections since 1998. In 2005, Gannon had a two-match improvement, finishing 7-11-1. It was the programs most victories since the 2000 club went 8-10-2. Individually, Rowan was named to the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) second team. She became Gannons first all-conference selection since Joy Pelger was honored in 2001. Gannon has been unbelievably good in the classroom during Petersens tenure. The Lady Knights captured the inaugural PSAC Womens Soccer Top Team GPA Award in 2011 as its 3.505 grade point average was the best among all PSAC programs. Twelve Lady Knights were named PSAC Scholar-Athletes in 2015. In all, 139 all-academic conference awards have been handed out to Gannon womens soccer student-athletes under Petersens guidance during the last 12 seasons. Sharbaugh and Reilly became the first womens soccer student-athletes in school history to be named Academic All-Americans in 2011. Sharbaugh was named to the Capital One Academic All-America first team while Reilly landed a spot on the third team. The duo joined Urban on the Capital One Academic All-District II first team. Reilly became a two-time Academic All-American with a first-team selection in 2012. She was also named a PSAC Fall Top 10 Winner. In 2013, Brueckner joined the programs Academic All-America group with a second-team selection. She and Michelle Genetin were named to the Capital One Academic All-District first team earlier that year. Brueckner became a three-time Academic All-American with a third-team honor in 2014 and first-team award last season. Prior to 2002, Petersen was an assistant under former head coach Rob van Rheenen for two seasons. The mens program posted a 13-21 record during those two years, while the womens program was 4-13-1 during its only season under van Rheenen in 2001. Petersen is a very familiar name to Gannon fans. The Vereeniging, South Africa, native was a four-year starter for the Golden Knights from 1993-96. Gannon advanced to the NCAA Final Four during his freshman season in 1993, losing to Southern Connecticut State in the semifinals. Petersen also worked in the Gannon Admissions Office for two years (2000-01). The former Gannon great earned all-region accolades as a student-athlete in 1993 and 1996. He was also named to the All-GLIAC first team during Gannons first two seasons in the league in 1995 and 1996. The forward is 11th all-time at Gannon in points (92), 11th in goals (35) and 13th in assists (22). His best season came during the 1993 campaign, when he recorded 13 goals, six assists and 32 points.

Becks Young returned to Gannon University Athletics as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's soccer teams in July 2024. She enters her second season as an assistant for men's coach Billy Colton and women's coach Colin Petersen. Both teams enjoyed huge success in her first season on the staffs. Both teams captured the Western Division regular season titles. The women's team posted a 16-2-4 record, defeating Frostburg State and Kutztown in the NCAA Tournament to reach the Sweet 16. They would drop a 1-0 decision at Shepherd in the Atlantic Regional Championship match. The men's team also qualified for the NCAA Tournament, ending the year at 14-4-3 and reaching the PSAC Championship match.    Young served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Gannon women's team during the 2021 season before becoming the head coach of the Erie Commodores of the United Women's Soccer League and later the Lake Erie College women's team.   Young then joined the coaching staffs of the highly successful Gannon men's and women's teams, both of which advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2023 and have multiple all-PSAC and All-America players returning in 2024.   Young was head coach at Lake Erie College from February 2023 to June 2024 and led the Storm to multiple wins in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference for the first time since 2019. She also helped Lake Erie triple its win total in 2023 from the previous season. Young coached one player to All-Ohio First Team honors and another to All-Academic Ohio First Team status. Her team had a 3.67 grade-point average.   With the Commodores, Young helped establish Erie's first women's senior team and served as the head coach from December 2021 to July 2023. She led the Commodores to an 8-6-4 record over their first two seasons. She also coached Gannon standout Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) to All-Star honors with the Commodores.   In Young's one season as a volunteer assistant with the Gannon women's soccer team, the Knights posted a 12-4-3 record.   Young also has experience as an assistant coach for the General McLane High School boys' soccer team (August 2021-November 2023), a women's assistant coach and developmental team head coach at Adrian College (July 2020-July 2021), and a graduate assistant for the Mercyhurst University women's team (August 2018-May 2020).   The native of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland attended Mercyhurst University where she received her bachelor's degree in Early Education and Special Education in May 2018 and earned her master's degree in Organizational Leadership in May 2020.   Formerly Becks Craig, she began her college career at the University of West Alabama in 2013 before transferring to Mercyhurst and playing for the Lakers from 2014-2016. She was a student assistant at Mercyhurst during the 2017 season. She resides in Fairview with her husband, Dan. 

Lia Petersen begins her 15th season as a member of the Gannon coaching staff in 2023, forming a family bond in the women’s soccer program. Lia is the wife of head coach Colin Petersen. The Knights have won 153 matches and qualified for the postseason eight times during her 14 years on the coaching staff. The postseason appearances include six trips to the NCAA Tournament. The last two years have seen the Golden Knights qualify for the NCAA Tournament, finishing at 15-4-4 a year ago while reaching the PSAC Championship game for the first time. Gannon defeated Fairmont State 3-0 in the first round of the Atlantic Regional before losing to Kutztown 1-0 in the second round. The 15 wins were the second-highest total in team history. The 2021 squad reached the PSAC Tournament semifinals before dropping a hard-fought 2-1 contest in overtime to Bloomsburg in the first round of the Atlantic Regional. Gannon ended the year at 12-4-3. Colin Peterson was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year the last two years. Four Golden Knights earned All-PSAC West honors in 2022, with Sarah Fails the first Gannon player to earn All-American honors since 2015. She was accorded United Soccer Coaches Third Team honors. In 2021 five Golden Knights earned All-PSAC West accolades, with Taylor Lewis becoming a rare four-time All-PSAC honoree. In 2019, Petersen helped the Knights achieve an 8-7-2 overall record and a 7-7-2 finish in PSAC play. The Knights went 2-1-1 vs. cross-county foes Mercyhurst and Edinboro. The Knights won both meetings vs. the Lakers and Fighting Scots at McConnell Family Stadium. Petersen helped coach one All-Conference selection and two players who earned Athlete of the Week and Defensive Athlete of the Week honors in 2019. In 2018, the team posted a 9-6-2 overall record with an 8-6-2 finish in PSAC play just narrowly missing out on the PSAC Tournament. Petersen helped the Gannon women’s soccer program advance to the PSAC semifinals for the third consecutive season and fourth time in the last five years in 2017. Two years earlier, she helped the Knights reach the program’s apex with arguably its best season in school history. The Knights went 17-1-0 during the regular season to capture the top seed in the PSAC Tournament before finishing at 18-3-0 overall. The program became the third PSAC squad to win 17 matches in a row, ascending to the No. 1 position in four consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Polls. It represented the first No. 1 ranking in program history. Gannon spent two weeks as the only team at any level of the NCAA without a loss or tie before falling at East Stroudsburg in the regular-season finale. The Knights shattered the school record for victories, surpassing the previous record set by the 2012 team that finished 13-4-2. Gannon hosted the PSAC Final Four and first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Petersen came to the collegiate level after serving as the girl’s soccer coach at Fairview (Pa.) High School  for 11 seasons (1997-08). The Tigers won ten Region 2 titles and nine District 10 championships under Petersen. In addition, the program made three Western Final appearances. Petersen starred on the soccer field during her collegiate playing days at Gannon. The former goalkeeper ranks 13th all-time at Gannon with 119 career saves, accounting for all 119 stops during the 1994 campaign. It marked the third-highest single-season total in school history. Petersen received her bachelor of science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Gannon in 1996. She graduated with a 3.86 grade point average and was a member of the Dean’s List throughout her collegiate career. Lia and Colin have four children, three who will be attending Gannon this year. Maddie is a senior and a member of the Gannon cross country team, while Charlie and Owen also attend Gannon and are members of the men’s soccer team. Charlie is a junior and Owen a freshman. Lincoln is their youngest child at the age of seven.