Oct. 11, 2006

Final Stats

Slippery Rock, Pa. - Meghan McGrath recorded a "hat trick" Wednesday afternoon to jump-start a misfiring Rock offense and lead SRU to its 10th win of the season, a 4-1 decision over visiting Clarion on James W. Egli Soccer Field.

The win in SRU's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division finale improved The Rock's season record to 10-4-1 and gave the Green and White an 8-2 final mark in division play.

Wednesday's win assured Rock head coach Noreen Herlihy and her squad a ninth successive double-digit-win season.

Eight days earlier, The Rock assured itself of a fourth straight trip to the PSAC playoffs with a 2-1 win at Edinboro.

SRU will open conference playoff action on Oct. 24 at home against Lock Haven, at which time The Rock will look to earn its fourth straight conference semifinal berth.

The Rock will also seek to avenge a 1-0 overtime loss to the Bald Eagles sustained Sept. 24 on Egli Field that ultimately deprived SRU of a first-round bye in this year's PSAC playoffs.

Indiana assured itself of a first-round bye with a 6-3 win over Lock Haven on Wednesday and will meet the winner of The Rock-Lock Haven game in semifinal action on Oct. 26 in Indiana.

Before meeting Lock Haven in the conference playoffs, The Rock will entertain Queens College of New York (3-8-1) in an NCAA Division II Northeast Regional contest at 1 p.m. Saturday on Egli Field.

The Rock will also host Mercyhurst (12-2) in a 7 p.m. game Oct. 17 on Bob DiSpirito Field at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium and travel to Bloomsburg (5-6-3) for a 3 p.m. PSAC "crossover" game on Oct. 21 before the curtain rings down on the regular-season schedule.

In Wednesday's game, Clarion -- despite being outshot by a 15-2 margin in the opening 45 minutes -- enjoyed a 1-0 halftime advantage.

McGrath then took things into her own hands.

She converted an assist from Lauren Plouse into the tying goal in the 63rd minute of action, turned a pass from Jaimi Wilson into the eventual game-winning tally four minutes later and completed put the ribbon on her hat trick off an assist by Nici Spamer in the 76th minute.

Martina Hall scored the final Rock goal off an assist from Alexis Chiani in the 87th minute.

All told, The Rock enjoyed a 38-8 advantage in shots and a 15-5 margin in shots on goal.

Rock goalie Lauren McManus yielded a goal on the first shot on goal she faced in the 38th minute of action, then turned away the final four potential scoring shots in succession.