SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team beat American International College, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in non-conference play at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Slippery Rock begins its season 1-0 with the win, while American International falls to 0-1 on the year. The win marks The Rock's second consecutive season-opening victory.
 
SRU's four goals Saturday is tied for the fourth highest total for the program all-time in a season-opener. The Rock's three goal margin of victory is also tied for fourth most all-time by a Rock team in a season-opener.
 
The Rock received great contributions from some new faces in freshmen Kayla Ulrich and Allison Martin. Ulrich led the way with a pair of goals while Martin added her first collegiate score as well. Liz Wolfe added SRU's final score of the day, with the strike being her first career goal. Brenna McGovern-Lind, Alyssa Castle and Hannah Simone all tallied assists in the victory.
 
Ulrich finished the day with seven shots, six of which were on goal. Martin and Kailee Krupski both added four shots of their own, with Wolfe chipping in three as well.
 
Defensively, goalkeepers Nicole Bream and Maddie Murphy were both given the opportunity to see the field. Bream started the game and played the entirety of the first half, allowing one goal and recording one save. Murphy subbed into the game to start the second half, where she saw only two shots as The Rock's defense stifled AIC's offensive attempts.
 
American International grabbed an early lead after a Katie Lombardozzi goal, that was assisted by Chelsea Davis, made it 1-0 at the 16:21 mark in the opening half. Following the goal, The Rock turned up their defensive pressure for the remainder of the game, thwarting any AIC offensive threats. American International recorded only two shots, none on goal, following their early lead.
 
The Rock evened the score in the 31st minute when Ulrich scored off McGovern-Lind's assist. Less than three minutes later, Martin scored from an assist by Simone at 33:12, giving Slippery Rock a lead it would never relinquish.
 
SRU added two insurance goals in the second half to put the game out of reach from the Yellow Jackets. Ulrich scored her second goal of the day in the 52nd minute followed by Wolfe's goal, which came from the top of the scoring zone off of a penalty corner pass from Castle at 58:38.
 
Slippery Rock held sizable advantages over American International in total shots (23-5), shots on goal (17-2) and penalty corners (14-4).
 
AIC's goalkeeper Alexis Torosian recorded 12 saves during her 70 minutes of play.
 
Up next, Slippery Rock faces Queens University 4 p.m. Monday in Lexington, Virginia for a neutral site non-conference matchup.
 
 
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