Oct. 18, 2007

Final Stats

Slippery Rock, Pa. - The Rock locked up the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division championship Thursday night with a 2-0 win over visiting Clarion on Bob DiSpirito Field at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

The win improved the Green and White's overall record to 13-3-1 and its PSAC-West mark to 7-1-1 with one division game remaining (Oct. 24 at Lock Haven).

The victory also assured The Rock of a first-round bye in the conference playoffs and a host role for a semifinal game on Nov. 2.

The semifinal berth is a conference-best fifth straight for The Rock, while the division title is the third won by a Noreen Herlihy-coached Rock women's team.

Senior midfielder Meghan McGrath scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in Thursday's game off an assist from senior midfielder Jaimi Wilson in the 24th minute of action.

Junior forward Danielle Cooper, assisted by junior midfielderCourtney Hoover, added an insurance goal six minutes later.

The Rock outshot Clarion by a 13-2 margin in the opening half and finished the game with a 25-12 advantage that included a 14-7 margin in shots on goal.

Sophomore goalie Lauren McManus recorded seven saves en route to her third shutout of the season and The Rock's seventh of the season.

The Rock will take little time to celebrate its division title as it must prepare for a Saturday afternoon invasion by defending NCAA Division II Northeast Regional champion West Chester for a non-conference game at Thompson Stadium.

West Chester is currently ranked first in the NCAA regional poll and fifth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America national poll. The Rock is tied for third in the NCAA regional poll and received votes in the NSCAA national poll.