SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 setback Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium against No. 24 West Chester University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference match.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 8-5-1 overall and 7-4-1 in league play. West Chester, which was ranked 24th in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of American top 25 poll, improves to 11-3 overall and 10-3 in the PSAC.
 
Saturday's game featured excellent defense by both teams as Slippery Rock and West Chester, which came into the match ranked first and fourth in the PSAC in goals scored, combined for just six shots on goal.
 
Junior defender Sam Thornton recorded four shots, two of which were on goal, in the loss. Junior defender Lynn Neef added three shots as well while sophomore midfielder Tess Keeley and freshman forward Julianna Esposito each took one shot.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Charlotte Elrod made three saves in 90 minutes of competition.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock held a 9-6 advantage over the Rams in shots while both teams were awarded five corners.
 
After being outshot 5-1 in the first half, Slippery Rock came out as the aggressors in the final 45 minutes of play by firing off eight attempts and holding West Chester to just one shot.
 
However, West Chester managed to score what would turn out to be the game's only goal off of a corner when Julianne Minutillo was credited with a goal off of a West Chester corner on an assist by Lexi Brown in the 62nd minute.
 
Slippery Rock continued to apply pressure after the West Chester goal with six attempts on the WCU net in final 23 minutes of play, but would ultimately come up short as West Chester managed to clear the attempts and hang on for the 1-0 win. It appeared as if Slippery Rock would benefit from two handballs against WCU in the final stages of the match, but neither were called by the officiating crew.
 
Slippery Rock will look to return to its winning ways 6 p.m. Wednesday at Edinboro.