SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa – Behind a goal from senior defender Liz Wolfe with no time remaining in regulation Tuesday, the Slippery Rock University field hockey team defeated Mercyhurst 3-2 in a non-conference matchup at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The win improved Slippery Rock's record to 5-2 on the year, while the loss dropped Mercyhurst to 1-5 for the season. 
 
With 10 seconds left on the clock The Rock forced a corner allowing junior Kalie Reed to center a perfect pass to Wolfe, who played the ball to the left of the Mercyhurst goalie to secure the SRU win and record her first goal of the season in the process.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock held advantages over Mercyhurst in total shots (9-6) and saves (4-3). Both teams recorded four penalty corners and six shots on goal.
 
In addition to Wolfe's goal, both sophomore Abby McKay and freshman Emily Polakovsky each scored goals for The Rock with Reed and Courtney Page assisting on two of the three goals.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Murphy played all 70 minutes Tuesday, stopping three shots and allowing two goals. Murphy has been the goalie of record for all seven games this season.
 
After a scoreless opening 29 minutes of the game, Polakovsky broke the 0-0 tie with her first goal of the season on Page's assist. The Slippery Rock lead lasted just 78 seconds when Lakers sophomore Leah Rogers fired a shot in from 10 yards by Murphy. The game remained tied at 1-1 heading into halftime.
 
Nine minutes into the second half Mercyhurst 's Alexandria Shumsky scored her second goal of the season to briefly give the Lakers a one-goal lead. The Rock was held at a deficit for 20 minutes until Mckay placed a shot past Laker goalkeeper Victoria Triaga from the left corner in the 61st minute.
 
The contest appeared to be headed to overtime before SRU drew the late corner that led to Wolfe's goal with zero seconds showing on the clock.
 
Up next, The Rock will hit the road to face No. 8 Bloomsburg University 5 p.m. Saturday at Steph Pettit Stadium.
 
NOTES
• Wolfe's goal is tied for the latest game-winning goal in Slippery Rock history; Michelle Couch also scored a game-winner with no time remaining in regulation to beat East Stroudsburg in 2014.
• With Wolfe and Polakovsky goals on Tuesday 10 of The Rock's 23 position players have scored goals this season.
• Wolfe's 15 career defensive saves are the fourth most by a Rock player in program history.
• McKay has scored two goals in the last three games.
• 64.5 percent (40 of 62) of The Rock's wins under head coach Julie Swiney have occurred at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• 29' Emily Polakovsky (Courtney Page) SRU 1 – MU 0
• 33' Leah Rogers SRU 1 – MU 1
• 44' Alexandria Shumsky SRU 1 – MU 2
• 60' Abby McKay SRU 2 – MU 2
• 70' Liz Wolfe (Kalie Reed) SRU 3 – MU 2
 
 
 
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