JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A Dara Demich goal early in the 19th minute was all the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team needed Wednesday afternoon in its 1-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown.
 
The victory, SRU's fifth in as many games, improved The Rock's record to 7-4 overall and 7-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition. The five-game winning streak is tied for Slippery Rock's longest streak in the last three seasons. The Mountain Cats dropped to 0-11 both overall and in the PSAC after the loss.
 
Slippery Rock held advantages in every significant statistical category Wednesday, including total shots (17-9), shots on goal (12-4) and corner kicks (7-2).
 
After going goalless for Slippery Rock's first nine games of the year, Demich has now scored in back-to-back contests. Demich's goal, the 28th of her career, gives her 64 career points, the eighth most in Slippery Rock history.
 
Tess Keeley helped create Demich's goal for her second assist of the season.
 
Demich tied for the team-high in shots on goal along with Maddy Tletski with three. Miranda Gallucci was the third Rock player with multiple shots on goal with two. Andrea Felix, Lynn Neef, Julianna Esposito and Skye Kramer each recorded one shot on goal as well.
 
Goalkeeper Kylie Downs stopped four shots to earn her third shutout of the season. Downs is now 6-2 on the year with a 0.58 goals against average and a .868 save percentage.
 
Demich nearly got The Rock on the scoreboard early on, but her penalty kick was saved by Leigh Appolonia 17:48 into the game. However, Demich quickly regrouped to put SRU on the board following a corner kick by Gallucci that led to a Keeley's pass to Demich who was able to slide a shot by Appolonia just 19 seconds following her missed penalty kick.
 
Slippery Rock did not allow a shot on goal for the remainder of the half to sail into the break with the one-goal lead.
 
Pitt-Johnstown managed five shots in final 45 minutes but, Downs saved three of the attempts while the fourth was blocked by a Rock defender and the final shot sailed high with just under two minutes to play in regulation on the way to another Slippery Rock victory. SRU had many chances to push its lead to two goals over the final half, but all three Tletski shots as well as Neef's bid were saved.
 
SRU is now 4-0 all-time against Pitt-Johnstown and have outscored the Mountain Cats 19-0 over the four meetings.
 
Demich's game-winning goal was the 12th such of her career.
 
Slippery Rock now turns its focus to one of its toughest games of the season, a 1 p.m. Saturday showdown against No. 3 East Stroudsburg University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.