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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – A stifling defensive effort on a frigid snowy night led the Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team to a 9-7 win over Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium Tuesday night.
 
With a wind chill in the low 20s and a driving snow for the duration of the game, Slippery Rock's defense managed to force 22 Edinboro turnovers and nine failed clear attempts and the offense scored opportunistic goals to snap a three-game losing skid.
 
The Rock improves to 5-8 overall and 2-6 in PSAC games with the win, while Edinboro drops to 7-6 overall and 3-6 in league action.
 
Slippery Rock dominated possession for the opening 20 minutes, but Fighting Scot goalie Autumn Held made 11 first half saves to keep her team in the game.
 
The Rock scored less than four minutes into the game for what would be the only goal of the first 22:13 before Edinboro tied it at 1-1 with 7:47 to play in the opening half. From there, the visitors built a 4-2 lead with 3:01 to play before the break, but Slippery Rock responded with two goals in the final 2:23 to send it to intermission tied at 4-4.
 
The Rock scored the first three goals of the second half to cap a 5-0 run and take a 7-4 lead. Edinboro would cut it to a one-goal deficit at 8-7 with 10:40 to play, but a goal from Jess Verbic with 8:24 to play gave SRU its final 9-7 margin of victory.
 
The Fighting Scots had the possession for much of the final three minutes of action, but could not close the gap.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with advantages of 27-20 in total shots and 22-20 in ground balls while also going 10-of-13 on clear attempts. Both teams recorded nine draw controls. Edinboro finished just 12-of-21 on the clear.
 
Morgan Pettit led the attack for SRU with three goals and one assist and enters this weekend's home games Friday and Saturday just three goals shy of her 100th career tally. Lacey Allis earned the start in the midfield and put together arguably her best game in a Rock uniform, scoring two goals and recording a game-high five ground balls.
 
Verbic scored one goal and handed out one assist and Kaytlin Callaghan, Anna-Marie Warrington and Paige Costantino each tallied one goal to cap the goal scorers for SRU. Katie Cook added an assist to round out the point scorers and Sarah Morris caused two turnovers and picked up five draw controls to lead the defensive effort.
 
Jordan Wagner earned the win in goal after recording eight saves, including four in each half.
 
Edinboro was led by two goals and two assists from Cydney Hrycko and two goals and one assist from Rachel Olson.
 
Held finished the game with 12 saves, including 11 in the first half and just one in the second half.

The win keeps The Rock a perfect 8-0 in the all-time series against Edinboro since the Fighting Scots added the sport in 2009.
 
Slippery Rock will close the home portion of the 2014 schedule Friday and Saturday when Millersville and Kutztown visit for 3 p.m. games each day. The Rock's three seniors, Pettit, Allis and Kaitlyn Hafdell will be honored before the Kutztown game Saturday.