Boxscore
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The Rock defeated visiting California (Pa.) by a 2-0 score Saturday afternoon on James W. Egli Soccer Field to assure itself of a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
Saturday's win moved The Rock (13-5-1, 9-4-1 PSAC-W) into a Tuesday PSAC quarterfinal match at Mercyhurst.
The Rock and Mercyhurst (10-4-4, 8-2-4 PSAC-W) tied for second place in the PSAC-West standings with 28 points based on a system that awards three points for a division-game win and one point for a division-game tie.
Mercyhurst earned the right to host Tuesday's game on the strength of a 2-0 mark s. SRU in head-to-head meetings this fall.
Saturday's loss deprived California of a playoff berth; a win over The Rock would have given the Vulcans the division's fourth and final postseason invitation.
Forward
Courtney Hoover (pictured above), one of two Rock seniors who played their final home regular-season game Saturday, scored what proved to be the game-winning goal off an assist from sophomore
Ashley Paganie in the 28th minute of action.
Sophomore
Juliana Howell added an insurance tally in the 66th minute when she nailed a penalty shot.
The Rock outshot California (12-5-3, 7-5-2 PSAC-W) by a 15-8 margin and forced Vulcan netminder Erin Cook to make nine saves. Senior goalie
Sarah Lacy recorded five saves for The Rock and chalked up her sixth shutout of the season.
Joining Hoover as a graduating senior this fall is mult-talented dynamo
Shelly Regner.
