SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team lost its 2016 season-opener to Notre Dame College, 3-1, in non-conference play Thursday afternoon at James Egli Field.
Notre Dame (1-0) scored three consecutive goals to start the game before Slippery Rock converted its first goal of the year with under three minutes to play in regulation.
Brooke Testa led the way for Slippery Rock Thursday by scoring the fourth goal of her collegiate career as well as posting two shots on target.
Sam Thornton,
Skye Kramer and
Maddy Smith all added shots on goal as well.
For the game, Slippery Rock held edges over Notre Dame in total shots (9-6), shots on goal (5-4), and corner kicks (8-5).
In what was a very physical contest for the duration of play, both teams played even through the opening part of the first half with The Rock's defense doing a great job clearing three Notre Dame corners to maintain the early tie. However, the Falcons broke through in the 34th minute when Lytia Hart scored on ball placed in the box by Norah Barnes to pull ahead 1-0.
Slippery Rock controlled the action for the remainder of the first half by keeping play in the NDC zone, tallying four corners and three shots, but ultimately SRU was unable to find the game-tying goal and the game went to halftime with Notre Dame holding the one-goal edge.
The Rock's best chance for a goal in the opening half came with just under a minute to play in the period when Notre Dame goalie Sam Shoemaker made a great save on Kramer's header attempt.
Notre Dame quickly added its second goal of the game at the beginning of the second half thanks to an Alexis Manoa goal at 51:23. The Falcons eventually added a third score when Manoa once again found the back of the net in the 86th minute.
Testa made sure The Rock avoided the shutout by scoring her first goal of the year in the 88th minute. After having her first shot blocked by a scurrying Shoemaker, Testa quickly rebounded the ball and placed it past two Notre Dame defenders for the score. A final Rock shot attempt by
Haley Burkholder sailed wide in the game's final seconds as Notre Dame hung on for the two-goal victory.
Charlotte Elrod made one save and played all 90 minutes as the goalie of record for Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock continues its season-opening homestand 2 p.m. Saturday with another important in-region match against No. 22 West Virginia Wesleyan at James Egli Field.
