SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Rachel Edge scored her team-leading 11th goal of the season and Tyler Spence added her fifth score of 2019 in a playoff-clinching 2-1 victory for the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team over Mercyhurst University at James Egli Field Wednesday afternoon.
 
With the win, SRU improves to 12-2-0 overall with a 11-1-0 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division.  The loss drops Mercyhurst to 5-6-2 with a 4-5-2 record in division play.

The victory secured a berth in the PSAC Tournament for Slippery Rock for the ninth-consecutive season. With four games remaining in the regular season, Slippery Rock is first in the PSAC West standings with 33 points, three ahead of second-place Edinboro. 
 
The Rock opened the scoring effort in the 37th minute when Edge converted a pass from Julia Mascaro to give SRU an early 1-0 advantage.
 
With the goal, Edge became the first Rock women's soccer player to score 11 or more goals in a season since Dara Dremich in 2015.
 
Spence added to the Slippery Rock lead when the senior scored her fifth goal of the season with Edge providing the assist, extending the SRU advantage to 2-0 in the 40th minute.
 
The Lakers came out of haltime and cut The Rock's lead to 2-1 when Alyssa Otto scored her eighth goal of 2019 in the 58th minute on a Lauren Casey assist.
 
However, a stout effort by the Slippery Rock defense ensued following the score with SRU defending two shots and two corner kick attempts in the waining minutes of the half to secure the 2-1 home victory. 
 
Rock goalkeeper Emma Yoder, the reigning PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, turned in another solid performance with four saves and one goal allowed in 90 minutes played.
 
Edge led the way offensively with one goal, one assist and six shots for SRU followed by Spence, Katy Ericson and Sofia Harrison who added two shots each.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action when it travels to Indiana University (Pa.) for a PSAC Western Division matchup 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
GAME NOTES
• With the win, Slippery Rock secured its second-consecutive season with 11 or more wins. Since head coach Jessica Grigg's first season in 2015, Slippery Rock has won at least 10 games each year.
 
• The 2-1 victory marked the fourth-consecutive game Slippery Rock has scored two or more goals. This season, SRU has scored at least two goals in 11 of its 14 games.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: ROCK 1, HURST 0 '37; Rachel Edge (Julia Mascaro)
GOAL: ROCK 2, HURST 0 '40; Tyler Spence (Rachel Edge)
GOAL: ROCK 2, HURST 1 '58; Alyssa Otto (Lauren Casey)
 
 

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