SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day with a dominant second half performance on the way to its fifth straight win, an 18-10 victory over Bloomsburg University Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Tia Torchia, who is one of the six seniors that was honored before the game, celebrated more than just the win after she broke the SRU career record for caused turnovers. She caused four turnovers in the game, all in the second half, to bring her career total to 93 caused turnovers, topping the former record of 92 that was set by Casey Quinn in 2012. Torchia also tallied a hat trick in the game and now has 98 points on her career, two shy of becoming the 13th player in school history to reach 100 points.
 
Saturday's win marked just the second victory for The Rock over Bloomsburg since 1989 and could have significant playoff implications for both teams when the regular season ends two weeks from Saturday. Slippery Rock won its fifth straight to improve to 10-3 overall and 6-3 in PSAC games, while Bloomsburg drops to 9-4 overall and 5-3 in league action after seeing a three-game winning streak snapped.
 
Slippery Rock never trailed in the game after Bre Vodde scored two goals in the first 33 seconds. SRU extended the lead out to 3-0 before Bloomsburg got on the board. The Rock led 6-3 with under nine minutes to play in the half before the Huskies charged back and evened the game with just 34 seconds left in the first period to send it to halftime tied 7-7.
 
SRU senior Jasey Sanders was injured and had to leave the game late in the first half and that seemed to ignite the team out of the break. The Rock tallied two quick goals in the first two minutes of the second half to lead 9-7.
 
Bloomsburg answered with a pair of its own goals to tie the score at 9-9 with 24:19 to play, but it was all Slippery Rock from there. The Rock reeled off nine straight goals and dominated possession to open up an 18-9 lead. Bloomsburg stopped the bleeding with a final goal with 3:11 to play.
 
Slippery Rock posted advantages of 40-26 in total shots, 19-11 in draw controls and 33-31 in ground balls while forcing Bloomsburg into 32 turnovers and just a .500 clear percentage (15-of-30).
 
ShyAnne Toomer led the attack for SRU with four goals and one assist, while seniors Torchia and Vodde each scored a hat trick. Tori Penders and Francesca Lindelow each added two goals, Kelly Muenster scored one goal and had one assist and Erin Brown handed out two assists to cap the multiple point scorers.
 
Sanders, Jordan Grey and Audrey Napp all finished with one goal to round out the scorers.
 
Emily Bitka improved to 10-3 on the year with another stellar performance in goal, stopping 14 shots for her seventh double-digit save effort of the year and the fifth in the last six games. She also grabbed a game-high eight ground balls.
 
The Rock's six seniors – Torchia, Vodde, Sanders, Bitka, Ally Culhane and Raelyn Waite – combined for seven goals, 15 ground balls, four draw controls, seven caused turnovers and 14 saves on Senior Day.
 
Bloomsburg was led by Tracy Rusen with five goals and one assist and Abby Bergman with two goals and one assist. Angela DiPasquale took the loss in goal after recording 14 saves.
 
Saturday's game was the first in a four-game homestand for SRU, which will welcome Mercyhurst University Tuesday, April 17, for a 4 p.m. game.


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