SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Tyler Spence scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the 77th minute to lead the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Mercyhurst University under the lights at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium Tuesday night.
 
The win was Slippery Rock's second in its last three games, improving its record to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contests. Mercyhurst falls to 3-3-1 both overall and in league games with the loss.
 
The deciding moment of the game came midway through the 77th minute when Sam Thornton sent a ball into Tess Keeley, who headed the pass down to the feet of Spence who in turn slipped a shot past the diving body of Mercyhurst goalkeeper Kristen Koch for the goal.
 
As it did the entire night, the Slippery Rock defense shutdown Mercyhurst's attack over the remainder of the game to secure the win.
 
Spence's goal marked the second time in the last three contests that a Rock player scored their first career goal on a game-winning attempt; Maddy Tletski converted the first two goals of her career in SRU's 2-0 win at California (Pa.) on Sept. 13. Keeley and Thornton were credited with assists on the play; the first of the year for both veteran players. 
 
SRU finished the game with a season-high nine shots on goal. Dara Demich accounted for four of the shots on goal with Spence, Lynn Neef, Andrea Felix, Kaitlyn Barackman and Haley Burkholder all adding one shot on goal apiece.
 
Felix nearly gave Slippery Rock an early lead 30 minutes into the game when Demich made a terrific pass into the crafty senior from midfield only to have Koch make a quality save on what would have been Felix's first goal of the season.
 
Slippery Rock's defense was solid all night as The Rock's backline successfully handled every ball that the Lakers put into the zone. For the game, Mercyhurst managed to put just one shot, a wide attempt in the second half, remotely near SRU goalkeeper Kylie Downs, who registered her first shutout of the season in the win.
 
For the game SRU held advantages over Mercyhurst in total shots (12-1) and shots on goal (9-0) while the Lakers held a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
Koch stopped eight shots for the Lakers in the loss.
 
Slippery Rock has now won six out of its last seven matches against Mercyhurst. Tuesday's game was the first of three contests that SRU will play at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium this season; Slippery Rock is 49-7-5 on the turf since 2002.
 
SRU will look to carry over its momentum into Saturday's home match against Mansfield University at James Egli Field. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.