SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Lauren Marks scored a goal with 2:28 remaining in regulation to cap off a 3-2 comeback victory for the Slippery Rock University field hockey team over Bloomsburg University Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The victory improved The Rock's record to 6-8 on the year overall and 3-5 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition while the Huskies drop to 7-9 overall and 1-7 in league games.
 
Saturday's game was virtually a must-win contest for SRU as a loss would have put The Rock two games out of sixth place in the conference standings with just two games remaining in the regular season. Instead, SRU exits the weekend just a half game behind IUP for sixth place in the league standings. The top six teams in the PSAC at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Bloomsburg appeared poised to spoil The Rock's Senior Day Saturday as the Huskies jumped out to a seemingly commanding 2-0 lead before SRU mounted its impressive comeback.

FH: Here's a look at the goals today from Katelyn Sparks, Jessie Trube and Lauren Marks in The Rock's 3-2 comeback victory over Bloomsburg! pic.twitter.com/NyGID2p1Df

— Rock Athletics (@Rock_Athletics) October 23, 2021

The rally started in the 29th minute when Katelyn Sparks corralled a loose ball in the heart of Bloomsburg's zone and proceeded to send a shot past the stick of BU goalkeeper Abby Shaffer at 28:50 to make it a 2-1 contest heading into halftime. The score was Sparks' fourth of the season.
 
SRU carried its momentum from Sparks' goal into the second half as The Rock came firing out of the break when Bailee Christman played a perfect pass from the near side into Jessie Trube who promptly flipped an attempt to the back of cage to tie the game at 2-2 just 1:26 into the third quarter.
 
In addition to being her team-best ninth goal of the year, and the game-tying score, Trube's goal was also the second quickest score to start the second half by a Rock player in the last 19 years.
 
Following Trube's goal, The Rock's defense proceeded to clear five corners while successfully defending four Bloomsburg shots, two of which were saved by Grace Burker, to maintain the tie game heading into the waning moments of the contest.
 
Slippery Rock broke through for a final time late in the game when Holly Stiller sent a perfect pass form the 43-yard line to Marks at 30. Marks then darted down the field unchallenged before launching a shot past Shaffer and just off the stick of a Bloomsburg defender and into the cage, giving SRU a one-goal advantage in the 58th minute.
 
SRU did not allow a Bloomsburg shot over the remainder of the game as Slippery Rock capped off an impressive 3-2 victory.
 
The game-winning goal was the first such of Marks' career in addition to being her third overall goal of the year.
 
The assists by Stiller and Christman were the third and second of 2021 for each athlete, respectively. Trube's goal moved her into a tie for sixth place in program history with Christine Peuplie (1984-88) for goals in a career at 21.
 
Burker ended the contest with three saves. With the win, Burker is now tied for second in Rock history for wins by a freshman goalie with six along with Courtney Lee (2011) and Maddie Murphy (2017).
 
Slippery Rock and Bloomsburg had nine total shots apiece while The Rock held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal with the Huskies holding an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
 
SRU continues its playoff push 4 p.m. Oct. 27 when it closes out the home portion of its 2021 schedule against Seton Hill University on First Responders Day at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
 


To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).