SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team opened the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference portion of its 2021 schedule with a 4-0 loss to No. 2 West Chester University Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Slippery Rock's record drops to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in league games with the loss while the Golden Rams improve to 6-1 overall and 1-0 conference play.
 
While SRU's four-goal defeat is tied for its largest loss of the season, Saturday's final score did not properly reflect how well goalkeeper Grace Burker and the rest of The Rock's defenders preformed against what amounted to near constant pressure from the Golden Rams.
 
West Chester's Cameron Smith scored a goal just over four minutes into regulation to give WCU an early 1-0 lead. The early score proved to be all that the Golden Rams could achieve for the next 48 minutes as SRU's defense bounced back from the goal by fending off the next 17 shots in addition to clearing eight penalty corners to maintain a one-goal deficit with eight minutes to play in regulation.  
 
However, WCU finally managed to break through Slippery Rock's back line late in the fourth quarter as the Golden Rams posted three goals within four minutes of each other in the game's waning moments on the way to a 4-0 victory.
 
The Rock's best chance for a goal came three minutes into the second quarter off of a corner when Holly Stiller placed a shot by WCU goalkeeper Claire Nielsen, but before the ball could find the cage Caitie MacNamara made a crucial defensive save. MacNamara went on to stop a put-back attempt from Jordyn Isner, eventually clearing the ball the to end the scoring threat.
 
Burker ended the contest with eight saves while Isner and Stiller combined for SRU's shots on goal with Erin Roland also recording one attempt.
 
For the game, West Chester held advantages over The Rock in total shots (23-3), shots on goal (12-2) and corners (10-1). Smith, Valerie van Kuijck, Montana Ott and Sophia Morrison all scored goals for WCU.
 
Slippery Rock now turns its attention to a PSAC road contest 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Indiana University (Pa.).   
 


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