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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team will start its 2017 campaign 6 p.m. Thursday when it travels to Edinboro University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest at Sox Harrison Stadium.
 
MATCH DETAILS
Opponent: Edinboro University
Date: Thursday, Aug. 31 – 6 p.m.
Location: Sox Harrison Stadium | Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 18-4-7
Last Played: Oct. 19, 2016 (The Rock lost 3-1 at home)
 
LAST MEETING
The Fighting Scots defeated Slippery Rock, 3-1, last year in a conference matchup on Oct. 19.  After the midway point in the first half, SRU's Dara Demich netted her fifth goal of the season. However, EU would score three unanswered goals en route to the victory. Edinboro held advantages over Slippery Rock in shots (12-10) and shots on goal (7-2).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock leads the all-time series 18-4-7. The Rock has won three out of the last four contests against Edinboro. SRU is also 11-0-4 on the road at EU capturing victories in four out of its last five meetings on the road.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
2016 Record: 10-8-1
2016 PSAC Record: 10-5-1 (fifth place)
Postseason: PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals
2016 Home Record: 5-4-1
2016 Away Record: 5-4-0
Last Five Games of 2016: 2-3-0
2017 Preseason Poll: Picked to finish eighth in PSAC
Head Coach: Jessica Griggs | Third season at SRU (23-14-2) | Fourth season overall (34-23-3)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• OPENING HISTORY - Slippery Rock has won seven of its last 10 season-openers to improve the program's record to 14-10 all-time in its first matches of the season. 
 
• THE RETURNERS - The Rock returns six players that started in at least 10 games last season including All-PSAC selections, Tess Keeley (three goals, two assists) and Maddy Tletski (four goals). Joining them will be defenders Haley Burkholder (one assist, 19 starts) and Madison Johnson (one assist, 12 starts), midfielder Maddy Smith (12 starts) and goalkeeper Kylie Downs (1.31 goals against average, .780 save percentage, five shutouts and 62 saves).
 
• Other contributors that are back for SRU in 2017 include Tyler Spence (two goals, two assists), Brooke Testa (two goals), Skye Kramer (one goal), Miranda Gallucci (two assists), Kaitlyn Barackman (one goal), Julianna Esposito (one assist), Emily Aldridge (six games, two starts) Sarah Blue (nine games) and Alex Wertz (two games).
 
• THE NEWCOMERS - Joining the roster for the 2017 campaign are Kara Seebacher (Harmony, Pa./Riverside), Sydney Lobb (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood), Sofia Harrison (Columbia, Md./Atholton), Madison Thierry (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove), Elise Forry (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), Avery Filicky (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), Danielle Blagojevic (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville), Shannon McIntyre (Westlake, Ohio/Magnificat) and Taylor Gunn (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands).
 
• DUAL-THREAT - PSAC All-Stars Keeley and Tletski will likely lead the attack for The Rock this season. The two combined for 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Keeley enters the season ranked 17th in program history in assists (12) while Tletski has started in 48 of her 53 games played in her SRU career. 
 
• SHE'S A KEEPER - Goalkeeper Downs will be back after making 62 saves last season and registering five shutouts. In just two seasons with the program, she has managed to rank eighth in SRU women's soccer history in career saves and ninth in save percentage (.780).
 
• HOLD THE LINE - Burkholder, Johnson and Aldridge will lead the last line of defense. SRU's defense registered a 1.42 goals against average in 1733:46 minutes played in 2016.
 
• AGAINST BORO - Current Slippery Rock players have scored one goal against Edinboro dating back to 2015. Keeley registered a game-winner against the Fighting Scots back in 2015 in a 1-0 shutout. Last season, Johnson recorded three shots in The Rock's 3-1 loss to EU.
 
• BEAT THE STREAK - The Rock enters this season after 21 consecutive winning seasons. The streak ranks seventh all-time in NCAA Division II. SRU has also registered 19 straight years with at least 10 wins.
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Sept. 2 (2 p.m.) at West Virginia Wesleyan
Sept. 6 (7 p.m.) vs. Indiana (Pa.)
Sept. 9 (1:30 p.m.) at Mansfield
Sept. 13 (4 p.m.) vs. Clarion
Sept. 19 (4 p.m.) vs. Kutztown
 
EDINBORO PRIMER
2016 Record: 13-5-1
2016 PSAC Record: 12-3-1 (fourth place)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament First Round
2016 Home Record: 6-3-1
2016 Away Record: 7-1-0
2016 Neutral Record: 0-1-0
Last Five Games of 2016: 2-3-0
Preseason Poll: Picked to finish fifth in PSAC
Head Coach: Gary Kagiavas | 22nd season at EU (206-160-34)
 
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS
• Edinboro has won three of its last five season-openers and is also 3-2 in PSAC openers dating back to 2012.
 
• EU is returning seven of its 11 primary starters from last season including 2016 NSCAA all-region honorees Coleen Brodman and Ashley Mutkus, along with All-PSAC selections, Sarah Baskey and Halle Hammer.
 
• The Fighting Scots return three of their top point scorers in Mutkus (24pts, 10 goals, 4 assists), Chatten (12pts, 3 goals, 6 assists) and Brodman (8pts, 3 goals, 2 assists).
 
• Baskey, EU's goalkeeper, returns for her senior season after a 13-5-1 record last year along with a 0.78 GAA. She allowed 15 goals while recording seven shutouts.
 
• Last year, Edinboro snapped a three-game losing streak against Slippery Rock with a 3-1 victory over SRU.
 
UP NEXT
SRU will continue its road trip in a non-conference match at West Virginia Wesleyan College 2 p.m. Saturday.

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