BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team scored two goals in the final six minutes of regulation to defeat No. 16 West Virginia Wesleyan College, 2-1, on the road Sunday night at the Wood Street Park in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
Slippery Rock improves to 1-1 in 2019 with the victory while the nationally ranked Bobcats drop to 0-1.
The Rock trailed for the majority of the game as West Virginia Wesleyan struck first on a Haelley Ramirez goal in the 25th minute. The early goal would be the only blemish for Rock goalkeeper
Emma Yoder, who proceeded to make seven saves following the score to keep the game close while The Rock offense figured out a tough Bobcat defense.
Slippery Rock finally broke through with under six minutes to play in the second half when
Rachel Edge beat goalkeeper Ashlee Schumacher for the game-tying goal at 84:34.
The tie was short-lived as Edge quickly found
Kayla Swope who in turn delivered what turned out to be the game-winning goal just 1:45 following The Rock's first score when she snuck a shot past Chelsea Hubner, who came on for Schumacher following Edge's goal, to give SRU a 2-1 lead.
Slippery Rock did not allow a shot in the game's final three minutes to preserve its one-goal road upset.
Swope's goal, the first of her career, marked the sixth latest game-winning goal in regulation in program history (86:19).
West Virginia Wesleyan held a 14-10 edge over The Rock in total shots and an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal, but was unable to record an attempt in the final 19 minutes of the second half.
In addition to the offensive heroics by Edge and Swope,
Jordyn Minda, who tallied two shots on goal, paced SRU's attack.
Sofia Harrison,
Tyler Spence and
Kaitlyn Barackman all had shots on goal as well for The Rock.
Hubner, who started the game prior to giving way to Schumacher to begin the second half only to come back in for the final stage of the contest, finished with two saves and one goal allowed over 50:26. Schumacher played 39:34, recording three saves and allowing one goal.
Slippery Rock is back in action 7 p.m. Sept. 11 when it plays at Clarion University in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division opener.
GAME NOTES
• The win marks the second consecutive season Slippery Rock has defeated West Virginia Wesleyan as a ranked opponent. The Bobcats are currently ranked No. 16 in the country as well as being ranked No. 22 in the nation in last season's 1-0 Rock victory.
• Slippery Rock now has a 10-1 record in contests decided by one goal dating back to last season including seven shutouts.
• With seven saves against West Virginia Wesleyan, Rock goalkeeper
Emma Yoder has now recorded seven or more saves in every one of her collegiate starts.
• The win improves Slippery Rock's record in games against ranked opponents to 105-71-9 (.592). The Rock now own an 8-5 all-time record over the Bobcats including a 3-2 record over the last five meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: WVWC 1, Rock 0; 25:01: Ramirez (1), unassisted
GOAL: ROCK 1, WVWC 1; 84:34: Edge (1), unassisted
GOAL: ROCK 2, WVWC 1; 86:19: Swope (1), Edge assist (1)
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