INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team was unable to overcome an early goal by Indiana (Pa.) in a narrow 1-0 loss for The Rock on the road in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon.
 
The loss drops Slippery Rock's record to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play while Indiana improves to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in league matches with the win.
 
Slippery Rock held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks while both teams recorded seven total shots apiece with IUP holding a close 3-2 edge in shots on goal.
 
The Rock's shot total was evenly distributed throughout the roster as Maddy Tletski, Julianna Esposito, Dara Demich, Maddy Smith, Brooke Testa, Tess Keeley and Skye Kramer all recorded attempts against the Crimson Hawks. Testa and Esposito accounted for Slippery Rock's shots on goal.
 
Rock goalkeeper Kylie Downs stopped two of the three shots that reached her over 90 minutes Saturday.
 
The difference in the game came in just the fifth minute when Lexie Pelluconi put the Crimson Hawks ahead, 1-0, with her league-leading seventh goal of the season. Kiersten Zerbe assisted on the score.
 
Slippery Rock played great defense for the remainder of the game, successfully clearing two corners and defending six IUP shots over the final 85 minutes of play, but was unable to come up with the game-tying goal.
 
SRU nearly scored the equalizer twice late in the game, but Esposito's attempt in the 77th minute and Testa's shot in the 86th minute were both stopped by IUP goalie Jessica Printz as the Crimson Hawks managed to hang on for the one-goal win.
 
Following four consecutive road contests, Slippery Rock will finally return home when it hosts Mercyhurst University 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.