Box Score
ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team saw its streak of six consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoff appearances ended Tuesday when Mercyhurst earned a 1-0 win over The Rock in Erie, despite SRU dominating possession and now allowing a single corner kick in the game. With the loss, Gannon University will be awarded the final PSAC playoff berth from the Western Division.
Slippery Rock, ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region by the NCAA Division II Selection Committee in a poll released earlier today, will play its final regular season game Saturday. The top-four teams in each region qualify for the national tournament. Mercyhurst entered Wednesday's game ranked fifth in the region.
The Rock dominated possession for much of the game, evidenced by an overpowering 9-0 edge in corner kicks, but could not find the back of the net.
“We really controlled the game and had them on their heels,” said head coach
Noreen Herlihy. “We controlled possession and gave them only one look in the whole game. They scored on their one chance and we just couldn't reward ourselves.”
The Lakers scored the lone goal of the game in the 60th minute when Danielle Braun beat Rock keeper
Alli Bird into the upper right corner of the net from 30-yards out off an assist from Jessie Roberts.
The Rock finished the game with advantages of 14-12 in total shots and 9-0 in corner kicks. Each team was credited with four shots on goal.
Bird took the loss, her second of the season, after allowing the lone goal and recording three saves. Rachel Griepsma earned the win after recording four saves.
With the loss, The Rock drops to 9-5-3 overall and 5-5-3 in the PSAC-West. Mercyhurst improves to 12-5-1 overall and 9-3-1 in league play.
Slippery Rock has been a staple in the PSAC playoffs since 2003, appearing in the semifinals five times and claiming the title twice. The Rock has appeared in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, most recently reaching the Regional Finals last season.
The 2009 season stands as the 14th consecutive winning season for The Rock with Herlihy at the helm of the program.
Slippery Rock will host Gannon, ranked sixth in the region, in the final regular season game of the season Saturday at Thompson Stadium. The Rock's four seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony. Live statistics and a live audio broadcast will be available through the SRU athletics Web site at www.RockAthletics.com.
