New/Sortable Box Score
ERIE, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Slippery Rock University field hockey team dropped its fifth straight contest as it lost on the road, 1-0 to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division rival, Mercyhurst Tuesday at Louis J. Tullio Field.
Kelsey Lovelace scored the games only goal on Mercyhurst's only shot and the Lakers held off Slippery Rock in the second half to secure the win.
Slippery Rock was shutout for the second straight game and with the loss it falls to 6-8 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC-West while Mercyhurst improves to 5-9 overall and 3-5 in the PSAC-West.
The first half proved to be a defensive battle as both teams combined for only three shots. Slippery Rock outshot Mercyhurst, 2-1 in the first half but it was the Lakers that scored on their only opportunity of the game to take the advantage.
In the 14th minute, Mercyhurst's Blair Pembleton passed the ball from right to left, just in front of SRU goalie
Courtney Lee, and Kelsey Lovelace poked it home for her fourth goal of the year.
The rest of the half continued back and forth and neither team threatened as the score was 1-0 going into halftime.
Slippery Rock came out of halftime and dominated as it didn't allow one shot and kept the ball in its offensive end nearly the entire second half.
The Rock had four penalty corner chances in the first six minutes of the second half but could not convert. Gina Smarelli and
Ally Banks each had two shots to lead SRU but couldn't get one past Laker goalie Jess Wess.
After a Slippery Rock timeout with 5:14 left in regulation, SRU had three penalty corners down the stretch but Mercyhurst kept The Rock off the board and held on for the victory.
SRU outshot Mercyhurst 7-1 and dominated in penalty corners 8-0, including 7-0 in the second half.
With the loss, Slippery Rock goalkeeper Lee falls to 6-8 on the year while Mercyhurst's Wess made three saves in the game and improves to 4-8 with the win.
The Rock is back in action this weekend as they host Seton Hill Friday, Oct. 12 for their “Corners for Cancer” game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
