WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team dropped a gut-wrenching 2-1 decision in overtime at No. 5 West Chester University Saturday afternoon.
Megan Lenzi gave The Rock a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 42nd minute, but West Chester managed to find the equalizer with only four seconds remaining in regulation before adding the game-winner just under four minutes into the first overtime period.
The loss snaps The Rock's seven-game unbeaten streak and drops SRU's record to 8-5-1 on the year overall and 8-3-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play. The nationally ranked Rams improve to 13-0 both overall and in conference competition. Saturday's game was Slippery Rock's second overtime contest against a team ranked in the top five of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's top 25 poll in the last seven days; SRU played East Stroudsburg, which was ranked third in the country at the time, to a 1-1 tie on Oct. 8.
The goal was the first of Lenzi's career.
Andrea Felix setup the score for her team-leading fourth assist of the season in addition to taking one shot against the Rams.
Dara Demich and
Kaitlyn Barackman each recorded two shots on goal apiece as well to round out Slippery Rock's top offensive performers.
Goalkeeper
Kylie Downs made a career-high 13 saves in the loss.
Slippery Rock successfully withstood nine shots and cleared four corner kicks over the first 38 minutes of play before countering with Lenzi's goal at 41:19 to give SRU the 1-0 lead.
SRU continued to keep West Chester, which entered the game leading the PSAC in goals scored, at bay through nearly the entire second half as WCU's first 10 shots of the period were thwarted by SRU's stout defense. However, West Chester finally broke through with just four seconds remaining in regulation when Kara Parvel beat Downs for the game-tying score to force overtime.
The Rams produced three shots in overtime with the final attempt being the game-winning goal by Julianne Minutillo at 93:46.
For the game, West Chester held advantages over Slippery Rock in total shots (25-6), shots on goal (15-5) and penalty corners (13-2).
Slippery Rock will look to return to its winning ways when it hosts Edinboro University 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at James Egli Field. The game will be the first of four straight home games for The Rock.
