Box Score
INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to earn a crucial 2-0 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Atlantic Region rival Indiana (Pa.) Saturday on the road.
Indiana (Pa.) entered the game as the top-ranked team in the PSAC-West standings and the fourth-ranked team in the NCAA Atlantic Region in voting by the NCAA Division II Selection Committee.
The Rock is the only team in the PSAC-West to earn a season sweep of the Crimson Hawks, having earned a 2-1 win earlier this season at Thompson Stadium when Indiana (Pa.) was ranked 16th in the nation.
“We really felt like we controlled each of the last few games we played in, but we just couldn't reward ourselves,” said head coach
Noreen Herlihy. “It really speaks to the heart and the potential of this team to rebound after a tough loss to come out today and beat the top-ranked team in the division on the road.”
Neither team could find the net in the first period, with Slippery Rock holding a 12-9 advantage in total shots and a 9-5 edge in shots on goal at the break.
The stalemate continued for most of the second half despite Slippery Rock holding an edge in possession and scoring chances. The Rock finally broke through when
Ashley Paganie scored her team-high ninth goal of the season off an assist from
Alison Hindley in the 81st minute.
Alyssa Barrett sealed the win less than three minutes later when she scored off an assist from
Shelby Ward in the 83rd minute.
Alli Bird was crucial to Slippery Rock's shutout win Saturday, recording a career-high nine saves to improve her season record to 5-1-1.
Kelly Brennan was credited with the loss after allowing two goals and recording 16 saves.
The Rock finished the game with advantages of 25-18 in total shots and 18-9 in shots on goal. Each team was awarded two corner kicks in the game.
With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 9-4-3 overall and 5-4-3 in the PSAC-West. Indiana (Pa.) falls to 11-4-1 overall and 8-3-1 in division play.
The Rock will travel to Mercyhurst Wednesday for a 4 p.m. PSAC-West contest.
SRU will close the regular season Saturday, Oct. 31, with a home match against Gannon. That game will be played on the turf at Thompson Stadium at 2:30 p.m.
