CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Rachel Edge recorded the 18th hat trick in program history to secure a 4-0 road conference victory for the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team over California University of Pennsylvania.
With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 13-3-0 overall with a 12-2-0 record in the PSAC Western Division. California falls to 3-10-1 overall with a 2-10-1 mark in division play.
The win comes on the heels of SRU being ranked third in the Atlantic Region in the first set of official NCAA regional rankings unveiled Wednesday by the NCAA Division ll Women's Soccer Committee.
The regional rankings are the only official ranking used by the NCAA to determine which teams from each of the eight regions will qualify for the 56-team NCAA Division ll playoffs. The top six teams in the Atlantic Region in the final set of rankings will earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
After defeating the Vulcans, SRU (36 points) extended its lead over Edinboro University (30 points) to six points. Slippery Rock has two games remaining in the regular season while Edinboro has three.
At the end of the season, the top-four teams based on point total in the PSAC West and PSAC East will advance to the conference tournament.
Slippery Rock opened the contest by attacking the Cal U. defense, recording 13 first-half shots to while the Vulcans recorded just one.
The Rock offense converted in the 33rd minute when
Sofia Harrison looped a shot over California goalkeeper Carly Gobbie and into the goal for her fifth goal of the season.
SRU continued to pressure the Vulcan defense, recording the first four shots on the second half along with a corner kick attempt.
Slippery Rock converted on the fifth shot when Edge played a deflection off the top post for her 12th goal of 2019 in the 68th minute.
Edge added to her scoring ledger just over two minutes later when the sophomore played a pass from
Kayla Swope through the Cal U. defense for her second score of the game and 13th of the season, giving SRU the 3-0 advantage at 69:38.
The Rock secured a 4-0 conference road victory when Edge netted her third goal of the night with
Jordyn Minda providing the assist. The goal marked the 18th hat trick in SRU women's soccer history and the first since 2014.
With the hat trick performance, Edge is tied with Mahogany Willis (Indiana) for the conference lead in goals with 14 this season.
Not to be overlooked was the effort by the Slippery Rock defense that allowed only one shot on which was saved by Rock goalkeeper
Emma Yoder.
While holding the advantage over California in shots at 24-1, SRU also held the advantage in corner kick attempts (7-0).
Slippery Rock returns to action when it welcomes Edinboro to James Egli Field for Senior Day 1 p.m. Saturday.
GAME NOTES
• The 4-0 victory marks the sixth game this season Slippery Rock has scored four or more goals in a game.
• With the four goals scored, SRU passed Bloomsburg University for the most goals scored in the PSAC with 45 this season.
• The Rock's 13 wins this season are the most it has had in a single season since winning 13 games in 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: ROCK 1, CAL 0 '33;
Sofia Harrison (Unassisted)
GOAL: ROCK 2, CAL 0 '68;
Rachel Edge (Unassisted)
GOAL: ROCK 3, CAL 0 '70;
Rachel Edge (
Kayla Swope)
GOAL: ROCK 4, CAL 0 '87;
Rachel Edge (
Jordyn Minda)
