Allegheny College was looking for golfers and Lauren Torso was looking for a college.

The two found each other - and they proved to be a perfect fit.

Torso, who graduated from Seneca Valley High School this spring ranked ninth in her class with a 4.38 grade point average, will continue her academic and golf careers at Allegheny.

Torso was a four-year letterwinner in girls golf with the Raiders. She was co-captain and team MVP the past two years.

"I applied to something like 13 schools," Torso said. "Some had golf teams, some didn't. I've been looking at Division II and III schools.

"I wasn't looking for a big golf program that was going to prep me for the LPGA or anything. I was looking for a low-pressure situation where I could enjoy the game and meet new people."

She found it at Allegheny.

The Gators have had a club golf team for women the past two years. The program is turning varsity for the first time this fall. It will also play a schedule in the spring.

Jeff Groff, who has guided the men's golf program at Allegheny for four years, is also the women's coach. The men's team has appeared in the NCAA Championships a Division III-record 29 consecutive times.

"We have eight freshmen coming in and Lauren is one of our prime recruits," Groff said. "She will fit right into our program."

Melanie Ice from Riverside and Katie Donaldson from Keystone Oaks are other WPIAL recruits headed to Allegheny. Two other recruits are from Ohio and the other two are from the Chicago area.

Washington & Jefferson, Westminster, Penn State-Behrend, Gannon and Mercyhurst are among other small colleges in the region with varsity women's golf programs.

"The time is right for us to make this move," Groff said. "There is more and more talented young women golfers coming out of high schools every year. And more and more school districts are forming girls golf teams."

Torso is the fourth golfer in the five-year history of Seneca Valley's girls golf program to play in college, joining Stacy Wagner (Marshall), Pam Wells (Pitt-Greensburg) and Caitlyn Campbell (Grinnell, Iowa).

"I'm happy to see these opportunities happening for girls in golf," Seneca Valley coach Lynn Wagner said. "Lauren's a special athlete, a competitive athlete."

Groff said girls golf is increasing in quality nationwide.

"Look at the Women's U.S. Open last weekend, with three teenagers fighting for the top spot going into the final round," Groff said. "That speaks volumes about the growth of women's golf."

Torso averaged 43 for nine holes last season. She qualified for the WPIAL girls tournament for the first time her senior year.

She plans to major in biology in preparation for medical school.

"Coach Groff is all about putting school first and that's what I like about him," she said. "But at the same time, they want to make the team as competitive as the men's side has been.

"I'm not looking to be the No. 1 golfer. I want to go out on the course and play, be part of a team again and balance it with my course-work."

Division III schools don't offer athletic scholarships, but Torso is receiving $15,000 a year in academic grants.

If Seneca Valley didn't have a women's golf program, Torso said she probably wouldn't be playing the sport in college.

"I would never have gotten the exposure if our high school program wasn't so advanced," she said.

"I think that's true," Wagner said. "She wouldn't have played at the level she needed to play at to be competitive.

"It takes a special player and personality to go on to college golf - as it does any college sport - and we have a few other girls interested in doing the same thing."