SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team recorded a 1-0 shutout victory over Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wednesday evening at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
After a scoreless first half, Julianna Esposito managed to put a shot past IUP goalkeeper Makenzie Witzel for the game's lone goal.
 
During the first period, The Rock managed a shot at 6:08 when Tess Keeley sent a header toward the goal that an IUP defender blocked. SRU followed that with another corner kick, but the Crimson Hawks snuffed it out.
 
IUP's best chance to score in the first period happened in the 40th minute when Gianna Parlavecchio received a pass off a corner kick and fired a shot. However, the SRU back line blocked it away.
 
Slippery Rock later managed to send a corner kick into the box again at 42:55, but Indiana was there to foil it.
 
In the first period Slippery Rock registered just two shots while Indiana recorded only one.
 
Coming out of the break, SRU put the pressure on early, when Esposito fired a shot that went wide at 55:07. Just three minutes and fifty seconds later, Skye Kramer sent a cross into the box for Esposito. She corralled it and booted it off the goalkeeper's hands and into the net giving The Rock a 1-0 lead.
 
It was Esposito's team leading second goal of 2017 and Kramer's first assist of the year.
 
IUP's best chance to answer came at 65:11 when Cassidy LeDonne headed a shot into the hands of SRU keeper, Kylie Downs.
 
With rain beginning to fall in the 69th minute, SRU managed to send a corner in the box in its final chance to extend the lead, but the Crimson Hawks kicked it away.
 
SRU's keeper Downs did make another save in the 80th minute, but was rarely tested in the 1-0 win, managing just two saves on two chances. 
 
Battling the elements, the Slippery Rock back line on defense continued its stellar play this season allowing just four total shots (two on goal). The Rock defense has limited opponents to just a .118 shot percentage.
 
Slippery Rock improved its Mihalik-Thompson Stadium record to 49-8-6. The Rock also moved to 1-1-1 overall, and 1-0-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play.
 
Up next, SRU will continue PSAC play on the road at Mansfield 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.


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