SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team dropped a close 2-1 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest to No. 3 East Stroudsburg University Sunday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The nationally ranked Warriors (12-1, 5-0 PSAC), controlled the first half of Saturday's game as they scored both of their goals in the opening 30 minutes while holding The Rock (3-9, 0-4) to just one shot.
 
However, SRU came out of the halftime break as the aggressors.  Defensively, Slippery Rock limited East Stroudsburg to no goals on eight shots over the final two quarters while The Rock's offense came alive with seven shots in addition to maintaining possession far better than the first half.
 
The Rock finally broke through a tough ESU defense when Jessie Trube beat Warrior goalkeeper Maddie Richie for a goal early in the 55th minute on an assist by Addy Ross to cut East Stroudsburg's lead to 2-1 with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
 
Slippery Rock had the ball in the ESU zone several times over the game's final moments, but ultimately was unable to come away with another shot as the Warriors escaped with the one-goal win.
 
Trube's goal was her team-leading sixth of the season. She also accounted for four of The Rock's six shots on goal Sunday. Trube has now recorded goals in each of The Rock's last two games.
 
Ross increased her assist total in 2019 to two after setting up Trube's goal while also tallying a shot on target of her own. Kayla Ulrich came away with SRU's other shot on goal.
 
Goalkeepers Hannah Nurse and Maddie Murphy both played a half on Sunday. Nurse got the start, making nine saves  and allowing two goals. Murphy came on to start the second half, finishing with six saves and no goals allowed.
 
East Stroudsburg held advantages over The Rock in total shots (25-8), shots on goal (17-6) and penalty corners (7-4). Celeste Veenstra and Grace Martini were responsible for ESU's two goals.
 
Prior to Sunday's game The Rock's 2019 senior class of Jordan Barnes, Brenna McGovern-Lind and Kalie Reed were honored as part of SRU's Senior Day Festivities.
 
Slippery Rock begins a two-game road swing 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at Mansfield University.
 
 
 
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