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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Caitlynn Palladino scored on a free position shot attempt from a tight angle with 25 seconds to play to lift the Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 win over Seton Hill Wednesday afternoon in the season opener from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Slippery Rock gained possession after a save by Emily Bitka on a free position attempt from Seton Hill with under two minutes to play. The Rock were then given a man-up advantage for the final 1:25 after a yellow card was issued to a Griffin player.
 
After a timeout, Palladino earned a free position along the goal line by drawing a foul with 26.9 seconds to play. She converted from a tight angle at the right side of the net and SRU put the game away by winning the ensuing draw control.
 
The win was significant for SRU as it marked the first time since 2008 that the program has opened the year with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game. The Rock will take a 1-0 PSAC record into spring break next week and won't return to league action until March 21. Seton Hill drops to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in PSAC games with the loss.
 
It marked a resilient victory for Slippery Rock after struggling most of the day with possession. The Rock were successful on just 10-of-25 clear attempts, turning the ball over 15 times on the clear and 26 times in the game.
 
Heavy wind gusts that climbed above 40 miles per hour and remained steady throughout the entire game were no doubt a contributing factor to turnovers for both teams, as Seton Hill also turned the ball over 26 times in the game.
 
Neither team was able to build a lead of more than two goals throughout the duration of the afternoon. The Rock jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than three minutes in, but Seton Hill answered with a 4-0 run to take a 4-2 lead with 14:40 to play in the opening half.
 
The teams traded goals with SRU scoring twice and Seton Hill scoring once to end the half with the Griffins leading 5-4.
 
Seton Hill added to the lead just 1:22 into the second half to make it 6-4, but SRU answered with a 2-0 run to even the score at 6-6 with 20:08 to play. The Griffins regained the lead at 7-6 with 18:15 to play, but SRU tied the game again just over one minute later with 17:11 to play.
 
Seton Hill had multiple chances at a go-ahead goal, including two free position shot attempts in the final four minutes, but Bitka slammed the door in her first start at SRU and Palladino finished off the victory.
 
Bitka, a junior transfer from the University of Albany, made 13 saves in her SRU debut. She also caused two turnovers and picked up four ground balls.
 
Bre Vodde was the leading scorer for Slippery Rock with a hat trick. Palladino finished with two goals as the only other player with multiple points for The Rock.
 
Ally Culhane, Tia Torchia and Lisa Casagrande all scored one goal each to round out the scorers. Casagrande's tally marked her first collegiate goal in her first collegiate game.
 
She wasn't the only freshman to make an impact as Tori Penders led The Rock with three caused turnovers and eight ground balls. Danie Porath also caused three turnovers and picked up four ground balls.
 
Seton Hill was paced by Tristen Hanke with three goals and one assist and Nicole Nath with two goals. Meghan Hollar took the loss in goal after recording six saves and allowing eight goals.
 
The Griffins finished the game with advantages of 26-21 in total shots, 20-14 in shots on goal, 31-24 in ground balls and 9-8 in draw controls. Seton Hill was 11-of-16 in clear attempts and failed to score on its only man-up opportunity of the game.
 
Slippery Rock will now break from conference games and travel to Florida for the next week for the annual spring break trip. The Rock will play three games in the Sunshine State, first meeting Saint Anselm this Saturday at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport. SRU will then play at the University of Tampa Monday night and will close the trip with a game against Georgetown College (Kentucky) at Ave Maria University next Thursday.
 


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