LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The 25th ranked Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team saw its record-setting season come to an end Tuesday evening with a 9-6 loss on the road at No. 22 Lock Haven University in the opening round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs.
 
The Rock finish the year with a 13-5 overall record, setting a new program record for single-season wins. SRU was 8-2 in away games this year with both losses coming at Lock Haven. All five losses on the season came to nationally ranked opponents.  The Bald Eagles improved to 13-5 overall and advance to the PSAC semifinals to face undefeated West Chester Friday.
 
The end result was disappointing for Slippery Rock after The Rock controlled nearly every statistical category in the game Tuesday. SRU posted a 28-19 advantage in shots and became one of the only teams all year to solve LHU on the draw, posting a 10-7 edge in draw controls. The Rock also edged LHU 21-19 in ground balls and forced the Bald Eagles into 30 turnovers.
 
Despite the advantages in possession and offensive scoring chances, SRU struggled with shooting accuracy and couldn't solve LHU goalie Lauren Marte in the final 20 minutes of the game.
 
The two teams traded short momentum swings with neither team leading by more than two goals until it was tied 6-6 with 20:41 to play. SRU couldn't find the back of the net again the rest of the way, while LHU scored with 17:37 to play and then put the game away with two goals inside the final 5:11.
 
Of The Rock's 28 shots in the game, six found the back of the net, Marte stopped 11 and the other 11 missed the target.
 
On the other end, Lock Haven was slightly more precise with its 19 shots, scoring nine goals and firing seven off target. Rock goalie Emily Bitka made just three saves, but had very little chance on most of the goals as they were scored after quick passes to open attackers in one-on-one.  Seven of the LHU goals were assisted.
 
Bitka finished the game with four ground balls to bring her season total and NCAA single-season record to 104 on the year.
 
ShyAnne Toomer paced the offense with three goals, all in the first half. Tia Torchia added one goal and five draw controls and Francesca Lindelow and Caitlyn Byerly each scored one goal. Erin Brown and Danie Porath handed out one assist each to cap the scoring.
 
Lock Haven was paced by Katie Costanza with four goals and Ashley Gochenaur with two goals and two assists. Alex O'Herrick entered the game with a PSAC record for draw controls this season but was shut down and held to just one draw control.
 
Slippery Rock was making its second straight appearance in the PSAC playoffs and now owns a 25-11 record dating back to the beginning of the 2017 season, the best two-year stretch for the program since it returned to the NCAA intercollegiate ranks in 2007.
 
Friday's game marked the end of the careers for SRU seniors Emily Bitka, Ally Culhane, Jasey Sanders, Tia Torchia, Bre Vodde and Rae Waite, who finish their careers contributing to 43 wins and four consecutive winning seasons.


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