New/Sortable Box Score EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost to No. 3 East Stroudsburg, 3-0, on the road Saturday at Whitenight Field in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 1-3 this season while the nationally ranked Warriors remain undefeated at 4-0.
 
ESU scored three goals within 14 minutes of game time in the middle stages of Saturday's contest to pull away with the win.
 
While East Stroudsburg controlled possession for much of the first quarter, a tough Slippery Rock defense was able to defend four shots and clear three corners to maintain a 0-0 tie heading into the second quarter.
 
However, the Warriors were finally able to break through The Rock's backline in the second quarter as Karly Conway tallied the game's first goal when she placed a shot in the back of the cage in the 19th minute. East Stroudsburg went on to score its second goal of the game at 29:02 when Celeste Veenstra beat Rock goalkeeper Maddie Murphy on a penalty stroke attempt to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
The Warriors began the third quarter with three consecutive penalty corners with the third attempt resulting in an insurance goal by Veenstra. Slippery Rock recorded three shots in the second half, but was unable to register a goal against ESU keeper Maddie Richie, who finished off the shutout with two saves.  
 
Murphy finished the game with a season-high 10 saves. The 10 saves represented the sixth double-digit save performance of Murphy's career.
 
Courtney Page paced The Rock's offense with two shots on goal. Lauren Marks and Jessie Trube both posted shots as well in the loss.
 
For the game, ESU held advantages over The Rock in total shots (23-4), shots on goal (13-2) and penalty corners (13-2).
 
Slippery Rock returns home to start a season-long five-game homestand at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium when it hosts Mansfield University 4 p.m. Sept. 18.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
2nd Quarter (18:15) - ESU 1, ROCK 0 – Karly Conway (Unassisted)
2nd Quarter (29:02) - ESU 2, ROCK 0 – Celeste Veenstra (Penalty Stroke)
3rd Quarter (32:45) - ESU 3, ROCK 0 – Celeste Veenstra (Karly Conway)
 
 

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