SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team opened its 2021 season with a 3-1 loss to Lindenwood University Thursday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The non-conference loss drops The Rock's record to 0-1 on the young season while Lindenwood improves to 1-0.
 
Slippery Rock played even with the Lions for the majority of the game, but a pair of Lindenwood goals in a 12-minute stretch of game clock over the second and third quarters proved to be too much for The Rock to overcome.
 
Erin Roland led the way for SRU with one goal, the first of her collegiate career, on a two-shot day. Jordyn Isner assisted Roland's goal for what was also her first point at The Rock.
 
Jessie Trube added four shots with Katelyn Sparks also placing both of her attempts on goal while Bailee Christman, Samantha Karmonick and Kayla Del Vecchio all posted shot attempts as well.
 
In her first appearance in a Rock uniform, goalkeeper Grace Burker stopped seven shots while playing all four quarters.
 
For the game, Lindenwood held advantages over SRU in total shots (13-11) and shots on goal (10-7). Both teams earned six penalty corners.
 
Makenna Rugani tallied two goals to pace the Lions' attack. Pauline Terwindt chipped in a goal of her own with goalkeeper Leah Brozovich making six saves.
 
Following 24 minutes of back-and-forth action, Lindenwood managed to break the scoreless tie when Terwindt played a ball from Annick Giebels in front of the cage to sweep a shot into the back left corner for the game's first goal with 5:19 to play in the first half.
 
After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, Lindenwood stretched its edge to two goals when Rugani converted a deflected attempt just past Burker to give the Lions a 2-0 lead with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Slippery Rock cut its deficit to one goal three minutes later when Roland received an entry pass from Isner off of a penalty corner and proceeded to fire a shot from the top of the circle by Brozovich, making it a 2-1 contest with 4:55 to play in the quarter.
 
However, The Rock's comeback bid was halted when Rugani scored her second goal of the game six minutes into the fourth to push the Lions' lead back to two goals at 3-1. Slippery Rock recorded a final shot on goal in the 58th minute, an attempt by Christman that was saved, as LU closed out the win.
 
Prior to Thursday's contest Dr. Joanne Leight, a professor of Physical & Health Education at SRU as well as the department chair and a former Rock field hockey student-athlete, represented the faculty and staff on the field by taking part in a ceremonial pass back as part of SRU field hockey's Faculty and Appreciation Day.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition when it hosts Queens University 2 p.m. Sunday on Friends in Field Hockey Day at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 


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