SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team closed out the home portion of its 2021 schedule on a high note Wednesday with an impressive 7-0 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory over Seton Hill University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
With the win, Slippery Rock improves its record to 7-8 overall and 4-5 in league games while the Griffins drop to 1-14 overall and 0-8 in the PSAC.
 
After going the first 37 games of her collegiate career without a goal, Holly Stiller scored twice Wednesday. In what was a game of firsts, Kayla Del Vecchio also converted her first career goal in addition to tallying her third assist of 2021.
 
Lauren Marks scored a pair of goals as well, her fourth and fifth of the season, with Jordyn Isner and Jessie Trube rounding out The Rock's goal scorers with one apiece. Trube's score was her team-high 10th of the year and 23rd of her career, moving her into a tie with Ann Motyka (1976-78) for fifth in program history for goals scored.

FH: The Rock closed out the home portion of their 2021 schedule in fine fashion Wednesday with 7 unanswered goals in a shutout vs. Seton Hill. Take a look at all 7 scores: pic.twitter.com/Ne286U7IV4

— Rock Athletics (@Rock_Athletics) October 27, 2021

Nadia Irving assisted on two goals with Samantha Karmonick and Haley Metcalf adding one assist each. Metcalf's assist was the first point of her career.
 
Goalkeepers Grace Burker (34:35) and Hannah Nurse (25:25) split time in the shutout victory with Burker being credited with win. Burker's seven wins are tied for the most by a freshman goalie in program history with Amy Bricker (1991).
 
The Rock and Griffins played to a scoreless tie for the majority of the first quarter before Marks ignited SRU's offense with a goal in the 14th minute. From there on, the contest belonged to SRU as Stiller added a goal in the second quarter to take a 2-0 lead into halftime before The Rock tacked on five more goals over the second half on the way to the seven-goal victory.
 
SRU peppered the Seton Hill cage with 29 shots over the four quarters, 22 of which were on goal. Trube fired five shots on goal while Marks and Stiller chipped in four apiece. Isner had three shots on goal as well with Del Vecchio, Karmonick, Bailee Christman, Gabriella Delcoco, Addy Ross and Katelyn Sparks all compiling one on target attempt each.
 
Already the winningest first-year coach in Division II this season, Wednesday's victory also moved SRU head coach Rayell Heistand into a tie for sixth in the NCAA, regardless of division, for wins by a first-year head coach in 2021.
 
Slippery Rock's seven goals Wednesday are tied for the seventh most goals scored in a game in program history.
 
Heading into the final game of the regular season Saturday, Slippery Rock's path to earning a PSAC Tournament berth is clear as SRU needs to defeat No. 1 Shippensburg University on the road and have Indiana University (Pa.) lose to Kutztown University. The Rock and top-ranked Shippensburg are set for a 1 p.m. start.
 




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