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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Kutztown University women's lacrosse goalkeeper JoAnn McLaughlin made 19 saves to backstop her squad to an improbable 7-6 win over Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action Sunday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The loss temporarily dampened the mood on Senior Day after Slippery Rock's three seniors, Morgan Pettit, Lacey Allis and Kaitlyn Hafdell, were honored pregame before playing their final career home game.
 
Slippery Rock dominated possession and finished with massive advantages in every statistical category, but could not solve McLaughlin on the way to matching a season-low for scoring output with just six goals.
 
The loss drops The Rock to 6-9 overall and 3-7 in PSAC games, while Kutztown improves to 4-10 overall and 2-8 in league action.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with advantages of 34-12 in shots, 12-3 in draw controls and 27-23 in ground balls, while also forcing Kutztown into an incredible 15 failed clear attempts as the Golden Bears went just 14-of-29 on the clear. The Rock was 9-of-13 on their clear attempts.
 
McLaughlin was the difference in the game, stopping 12 shots in the first half and seven more in the second half and allowing just six goals on 25 shots on target.
 
Slippery Rock was led offensively by Jess Verbic with a hat trick and three ground balls and Katie Cook with three assists and three ground balls. Allis scored one goal and handed out one assist and Paige Costantino and Mary Kate Schwartz each tallied one goal to round out the scorers.
 
Sarah Morris led the defensive effort with four caused turnovers, five ground balls and a game-high seven draw controls. Hafdell added three caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Jordan Wagner took the loss in net after recording five saves.
 
Kutztown got four goals from Jillian Spencer to join McLaughlin as the leaders of the Golden Bear squad.
 
Kuztown scored just 25 seconds into the game after winning the opening draw and marching down the field, but Slippery Rock answered just 57 seconds into the game in what looked like it would be a high scoring affair.
 
The teams traded goals again before the 10 minute mark to tie the game at 2-2 before both teams went on a drought of nearly nine minutes.
 
Slippery Rock took a 4-3 lead with 2:41 to play in the half, but Kutztown scored with 15 seconds on the clock to sent it to halftime tied at 4-4.
 
The Golden Bears scored the first two goals of the second half to lead 6-4 with 26:13 to play, a lead they would never relinquish. Slippery Rock cut it to 6-5 with 26:13 to play, but Kutztown regained a two-goal edge with 16:12 to play with what would be the game-winner.
 
Slippery Rock tallied its final goal with a free position shot from Allis with 4:20 to play, but could never find the tying goal.
 
Saturday marked the final home game of the 2014 season. Slippery Rock will close the year with road games at Mercyhurst and Lock Haven.
 
Rock head coach Emily Hopkins was not present at the game, after Hopkins gave birth to her second child, a daughter, in the early morning hours Saturday.