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INDIANA, Pa. – Michelle Couch scored a breakaway goal in overtime to propel the Slippery Rock University field hockey team to a 1-0 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Indiana (Pa.) Saturday night from George P. Miller Stadium.
 
The win extends Slippery Rock's current win streak to five games, matching the longest streak in program history set by the 1987 Rock field hockey squad. The victory is The Rock's first over IUP since 2011, snapping a string of seven consecutive losses to the Crimson Hawks.
 
With the win, The Rock improves to 9-6 overall and 7-4 in PSAC action. SRU's nine wins move the 2014 team into sole-possession of the fourth-best single-season win total in program history, with three games remaining on the schedule. The win total also represents The Rock's first nine-win season since the 1988 team finished 10-3-1.
 
In the waning minutes of overtime, Couch picked up a loose ball at midfield and raced down the sideline past a Crimson Hawks defender to set up a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Couch dodged the charging keeper and found the bottom-right corner of the cage for the dramatic game-winner in the 80th minute.
 
Slippery Rock controlled possession in the opening half, holding a 6-3 edge in penalty corners, but was held scoreless as they were outshot 4-2. The Rock turned up the pressure in the second half and outshot the hosts 5-1, but failed to find the back of the cage as the game went into extras.
 
The Rock's defensive line had another strong game in front of junior goalkeeper Carlee DuMars, limiting the Crimson Hawks to a single shot in the second half and overtime combined. DuMars picked up her third shutout this fall after making three saves to improve to 9-6 on the season, marking the most wins by a Rock goalkeeper since the stat began being recorded in 2003.
 
Slippery Rock finished the match with advantages in total shots (9-5), shots on goal (7-3) and penalty corners (10-4).
 
The Rock increases its PSAC playoff positioning with the victory and currently resides in fifth-place at 7-4 in league play. Slippery Rock holds a 1.5 game lead on the sixth and final playoff spot currently shared by Kutztown and Mercyhurst at 5-5.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action at third-place and No. 3 Shippensburg Tuesday. The PSAC match against the nationally-ranked Raiders is set to begin at 4 p.m. from Robb Sports Complex.