MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team saw its late rally fall just short in a 9-8 loss on the road at Millersville University Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action.
 
The loss drops The Rock to 11-4 overall on the year and 6-4 in PSAC games, while Millersville improves to 7-8 overall and 4-6 in league action. SRU slips one spot back to fifth place in the league standings with two games to play. Only the top six in the final standings after next Saturday's games will make the PSAC playoffs.
 
Slippery Rock posted advantages of 25-19 in shots and 12-7 in draw controls Saturday, but fired eight shots off target and converted on just 2-of-11 free position shot attempts.
 
Millersville led 9-5 with just over 11 minutes to play before The Rock rallied back with three goals over the next seven minutes to cut the deficit to 9-8 with 4:07 to play. SRU could never find the tying goal, despite having a man-up opportunity for the final 1:15 of the game, which resulted in one shot off target with four seconds left.
 
Millersville finished the game with a 20-19 edge in ground balls and was 4-for-6 on free position shots, making the most of its 15 shots on goal.
 
Bre Vodde, Chynna Chan and Caitlynn Palladino all scored two goals for SRU and ShyAnne Toomer added one goal and one assist. Lisa Casagrande scored on goal and Brittany Brewer had one assist to cap the scorers.
 
Tia Torchia finished with a game-high six draw controls, but was held scoreless on seven shots.
 
Emily Bitka took the loss in goal after allowing nine goals and recording six saves.
 
Millersville was paced by Calli Kavanaugh with three goals and Sarah Leverentz with two goals and one assist. Sabrina Fusco and Taylor Davis each scored one goal and had one assist and Bryanna Weston-Wyatt made nine saves in goal.
 
Slippery Rock can clinch its first PSAC playoff berth since the program returned in 2007 with one victory in either of its final two games of the regular season. The Rock will travel to No. 14 Mercyhurst Wednesday for a 4 p.m. game and will close the regular season next Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Shippensburg.