INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost on the road at Indiana University (Pa.), 1-0Wednesday in what was both team's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in league games. With the win, the Crimson Hawks improve to 2-6 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC. Wednesday's game was the second of the season between SRU and IUP; The Rock won a non-conference game against the Crimson Hawks, 2-1, at home on Sept. 19.
 
The difference in the game was a goal by Renne Lauer early in the 17th minute off of a Hannah Miller assist. Slippery Rock proceeded to pepper the IUP cage with five shots on goal over the remainder of the first half, but IUP goalie Olivia Accardi was able to stop each attempt to send Indiana into the break leading 1-0.
 
SRU couldn't continue its offensive surge in the second half as The Rock was limited to just two shots, a Liz Wolfe attempt that was blocked in the 59th minute and a Hannah Downing shot in the final minute of regulation that was also blocked before getting to IUP's goalie.
 
Slippery Rock did have one final chance to tie the game with an untimed penalty corner at the end of regulation, but the initial pass out of the corner was missed, allowing Indiana to escape with the narrow win.
 
Wolfe, Sam Geroski, Abby McKay, Jessie Trube and Lauren Marks all recorded one shot on goal apiece for The Rock. Goalkeeper Maddie Murphy played all 70 minutes, stopping five shots and allowing one goal.
 
For the game, Indiana held advantages over The Rock in total shots (10-7), shots on goal (6-5) and penalty corners (11-8).
 
Slippery Rock will look to bounce back from Wednesday's loss with a victory over No. 1 West Chester University 1 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 


The Rock will return home to face top-ranked West Chester University in a PSAC contest 1 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.