Live Stats  |  Slippery Rock Stats  |  Millersville Stats
 
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team will hit the road to face No. 3 Millersville University 12 p.m. Saturday for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matchup at Biemesderfer Stadium.
 
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Millersville University
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28 – 12 p.m.
Location: Biemesderfer Stadium | Millersville, Pa.
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Millersville leads 33-9-2
Last Played: Sept. 28, 2016 (Rock lost 1-0 on the road)
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock lost to Millersville, 1-0, in a PSAC road matchup on Sept. 28, 2016. Margaret Thorwart scored the Marauders lone goal of the game, with an assist coming from Kathleen Bishop. For the game, Millersville led SRU in shots (12-1), shots on goal (6-0) and penalty corners (10-3).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Millersville holds the all-time series edge over Slippery Rock, 33-9-2.  The Marauders have won the last 11 meetings between the two teams, with SRU's last victory coming in 2007. Millersville has been ranked in the top 10 in eight of its last nine matchups against The Rock.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Record: 10-7
PSAC Record: 5-4
Streak: Lost one
Home Record: 6-3
Away Record: 3-4
Neutral Record: 1-0
Head Coach: Julie Swiney | Eighth season at SRU (57-90) | 12th season overall (73-148)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• LAST TIME OUT – The Rock fell to No. 2 East Stroudsburg, 3-0, in a PSAC home matchup on Oct. 21. ESU received goals from Paige Harrold, Melanie Shambaugh and Kelli Shapiro. Harrold and Sara Ober also added assists in the win.
 
• PLAYOFF PUSH – SRU has qualified for the PSAC tournament for the first time since 2014. The Rock is currently slotted sixth in the PSAC, but depending on how the final weekend plays out, SRU has the ability to move up to as high as fourth in the standings.
 
• Slippery Rock, West Chester and Bloomsburg all have matching 5-4 conference records with one game to play. For seeding purposes, Slippery Rock holds the tiebreaker over West Chester, Bloomsburg holds a tiebreaker over The Rock and West Chester holds a tiebreaker over Bloomsburg.
 
• WINNING WAYS – Slippery Rock's 10 wins on the year is its highest total since the 1988 season, when the team finished 10-3-1. With just one game remaining, The Rock has also secured a winning record for the first time since 1998, when the team finished 8-6.
 
• SLIPPERY ROCK SCORER'S – The Rock has received goals from 11 players so far this season. Kayla Ulrich leads the team with 11 scores, followed by Kailee Krupski and Brittany Morgan with five each. Hannah Downing has three goals on the year, followed by Abby McKay with two and Courtney Page, Liz Wolfe, Alyssa Castle, Allison Martin, Sam Geroski and Allison Grant all with one apiece.
 
• A HELPING HAND – SRU has also had 10 players record assists so far this year. Kayla Mack leads the team with four, followed by Morgan with three. Ulrich, Page, Wolfe and Hannah Simone each have two, followed by McKay, Castle, Krupski and Brenna McGovern-Lind with one assist apiece.
 
• SWITCHABLE STOPPERS – For a majority of Slippery Rock's 17 games this season, SRU has implemented a system of starting Nicole Bream and then subbing in Maddie Murphy for the second half. In 15 starts, Bream is 4-4 with 38 saves, a 1.49 goals against average and a .760 save percentage. In 17 games played (two starts), Murphy is 6-3 with 43 saves, a 1.77 goals against average and a .729 save percentage.
 
• FRESHMEN TO FEAR – The Rock has had four players crack the top 10 of various SRU freshman record book categories. Ulrich ranks first in shots (61), shots on goal (49), points (24), goals (11) and is tied for fifth in assists (two). Morgan is tied for second in assists (three) and tied for third in points (13) and goals (five). Page is tied for fifth in assists (two). Murphy currently ranks fourth in goalie minutes (634:29) and saves (43). 
 
• AMONG THE PSAC'S BEST – Ulrich is ranked among the best in virtually every major statistical category in the PSAC. She currently ranks fifth in goals, is tied for seventh in shots and is tied for eighth in points.
 
• DAZZLING DEFENDERS – Mack leads The Rock with five defensive saves this season, which is tied for fifth most in the PSAC. Wolfe has three defensive saves on the season, which is tied for 10th in the PSAC. For their careers, Mack is tied for second in program history in defensive saves with 18 while Wolfe ranks fifth with 12. As a team, SRU ranks sixth in the nation in total defensive saves.
 
MILLERSVILLE PRIMER
Record: 13-4
NFHCA Rank: Third
PSAC Record: 7-2
Streak: Lost one
Home Record: 8-2
Away Record: 5-2
Head Coach: Shelly Behrens | 10th season at Millersville (133-68) | 20th season overall (210-188)
 
SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS
• Millersville enters the game having lost a PSAC home matchup against No. 1 Shippensburg, 2-1, on Oct. 25.
 
• As a team, the Marauders currently rank first in Division II in shutouts per game (0.59), second in goals against average (0.86) and sixth in penalty corners per game (10.12) and save percentage (0.800). Individually, goalkeeper Kylee Bair ranks first in goals against average (0.81).
 
• Millersville has six players with four or more goals on the season. Erica Tarsi leads the team with 10 scores, followed by Bishop with nine. Aliza Mizak has seven goals on the year, followed by Maci Langone, Emma Boutcher and Alexis Gazzio with four apiece.
 
• Seven players have also recorded two or more assists for the Marauders this year. Tarsi leads the team with seven, followed by Bishop and Courtney Weaver with four assists each. Kyra Brakefield has three helpers, followed by Mizak, Langone and Lexi Robison with two apiece.
 
• Two goalkeepers have seen time in cage for Millersville this season. In 15 games played (14 starts), Bair is 12-2 with 37 saves, a 0.81 goals against average and a .771 save percentage. In five games played (three starts), Autumn Peters is 1-2 with 16 saves, a 1.08 goals against average and a .800 save percentage.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will begin its quest towards capturing the program's first conference title on Oct. 31 with a first round game in the PSAC Tournament. The Rock's opponent is yet to be determined.


To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics), Instagram (RockAthletics) and Snapchat (@RockAthletics).