Box Score
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team went toe-to-toe with No. 4 Bloomsburg University, but were unable to capture its second win of the season as SRU fell 2-1 to the Huskies on Saturday.
Slippery Rock (1-9, 0-3 PSAC-West) was led by senior goalie Lisa Belcastro and sophomore Gabrielle Malishchak. Belcastro, who has made at least 10 saves in three games this season, matched a season-high with 13 stops while Malishchak scored The Rock's lone goal against the Huskies (7-2, 2-1 PSAC-East).
The beginning of the contest saw The Rock defense fend off an aggressive Bloomsburg attack that fired off six shots and drew four corners in the first 10 minutes of play.
Slippery Rock's offense made the most of its few opportunities in the half with Malishchak converting her, and the team's, first shot into a goal at the 14:09 mark in the first half to give The Rock a 1-0 lead. The score was Malishchak's second goal in as many games and her fourth of the season.
The score jumpstarted The Rock's offense as SRU drew two corners and junior Skylar Brosse and freshman Kaitlin McGinnis both took shots at the Bloomsburg cage within two minutes of Malishchak's goal.
The first half came to a close with Belcastro making five more saves in the final 15 minutes of the frame to help preserve a 1-0 halftime lead for Slippery Rock. Belcastro finished the half with an astounding 10 saves.
Bloomsburg continued to keep pressure on the Green and White's defense in the second half with four shots and four corners in the opening eight minutes of action. The Huskies finally broke through at 44:11 when Lauren McGinley scored off of a Betsy Renn assist to tie the game at 1-1. Bloomsburg took a 2-1 lead just a minute and eight seconds later thanks to an Amanda Riley score.
While SRU was able to hold the Huskies scoreless for the rest of the contest, The Rock was unable to make another strike against Bloomsburg as the hosts managed to hang on for the 2-1 win.
Bloomsburg had a 22-3 advantage in both shots and corners.
Slippery Rock will be back in action at 4 p.m. on Tuesday when PSAC-West rival Indiana (Pa.) comes to Thompson Stadium. Seven of The Rock's final nine games of the year will be played at home.
