SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team clinched a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoff berth for the first time since the program was reinstated in 2007 after posting an 18-6 win on the road at Shippensburg University Saturday in the regular season finale.
 
The victory improves SRU to 12-5 overall on the year and locks up the No. 5 seed in the PSAC playoffs. It also ties the 2012 team for the most wins in a single-season in program history. Slippery Rock will play at No. 4 Indiana (Pa.) Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs. Indiana defeated SRU 10-7 in the first meeting between the teams back on April 12 in Indiana.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to a 5-1 lead at halftime and cruised to the victory Saturday in what turned out to be a must-win for The Rock to clinch a playoff spot.
 
The Rock finished the game with advantages of 32-25 in shots, 23-21 in ground balls and 15-10 in draw controls.
 
Tia Torchia paced the attack with three goals and one assist and Bre Vodde and Chynna Chan each tallied a hat trick. Caitlynn Palladino scored two goals and handed out one assist and Ally Culhane and Brittany Brewer each scored two goals.
 
ShyAnne Toomer scored one goal and handed out three assists. Tori Penders tallied two assists and Kelsey Thoensen and Kelly Muenster each scored one goal to round out the point scorers.
 
EmilyBitka made 12 saves and allowed just five goals in the first 53:17 in goal to earn the win. Tori Greco made one save and allowed one goal in the final 6:43 in net.
 
Shippensburg finishes its season with a 7-9 overall record and 3-9 mark in PSAC games. The Raiders were paced by Max Barkley with three goals and Maggie Lawshe with two assists. Birdgette Morrissey recorded eight saves in goal.
 
Slippery Rock will open the PSAC playoffs Tuesday at Indiana at 4 p.m. A win Tuesday would send SRU to the PSAC semifinals next Friday at East Stroudsburg. The Warriors won the regular season title and the right to host the final four after losing just once in the regular season PSAC schedule. That loss came by two goals against Slippery Rock.
 


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