Nov. 6, 2005

Final Stats

Kutztown, Pa. - Game MVP Meghan McGrath scored the only goal of the game Sunday afternoon to propel The Rock to victory over hosting Kutztown in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoff championship game.

McGrath scored indirectly off SRU's only corner kick of the game. Julie Lineman's corner kick was cleared by a Kutztown player to midfield, but The Rock's Emily Lamp sent the ball between a pair of Golden Bear defenders and back into the KU zone.

McGrath too the pass and angled her shot from the left side, past a sliding KU goalkeeper Nicole Rodweller and into the right side of the goal at the 47:24 mark.

The Rock defense, led by freshman goalie Jen McCormick -- who had four saves en route to recording her 12th shutout of the season -- then made the lone goal stand up.

Sunday's win was the third straight by SRU (13-5-3), which claimed its second PSAC title in three seasons.

The Rock won a 4-3 decision over Lock Haven in the 2003 title game on SRU's James W. Egli Soccer Field to claim its first-ever PSAC title.

McGrath was also named as the MVP of the 2003 title game and later earned first-team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She missed the entire 2004 campaign after having knee surgery.

Kutztown (14-7-1) lost in the PSAC title game for the second successive season.

Sunday results should put The Rock in position to receive a berth in the NCAA playoffs, despite the fact that SRU was not ranked in the top eight in last week's NCAA Division II Northeast Regional ranking.

The NCAA will announce the 16-team playoff field on Monday.

SRU last competed in the NCAA playoffs in 2003. The Rock made its first-ever trip to the NCAA playoffs in 2001, when it advanced to the regional finals.