SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team will look to clinch a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament berth with a win at Clarion 7 p.m. Saturday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics will be provided by the Clarion Sports Information department at the links below.
 
GAME 18 DETAILS
Opponent: Clarion
Date: Saturday – 7 p.m.
Location: Memorial Stadium – Clarion, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 26-1-2
Last Played: Sept. 28, 2022
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. CLARION
Slippery Rock holds a sizable 26-1-2 lead in the all-time series over the Golden Eagles. SRU is 12-1-2 when traveling to Clarion and has allowed the Golden Eagles to score just two goals over their last three matches on the road.
 
LAST MEETING
The Rock shutout Clarion 4-0 Sept. 28, 2022 at James Egli Field. Four different players accounted for SRU's scoring surge. Kayla Swope, Ashley Rea, Sydney Patrick and Skylar Munnikhuysen each tallied one goal apiece. Julia Mascaro dished out two assists while Swope, Maddie DeLucio and Kylee Kosek each made one assist.
 
Emma Yoder tallied five saves over 90 minutes, passing Kylie Downs (2015-18) and becoming The Rock's all-time leader in saves.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 6-3-8
PSAC West Record: 5-3-7
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 2-2-5
Away Record: 4-1-3
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Jessica Giegucz | Eighth season at SRU (82-37-17)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock claimed a 2-0 win over Edinboro Oct. 22 in its Senior Day match at James Egli Field. DeLucio and Faith Diffenbacher each netted their second goals of the season while Brooke Riefenstahl and Libby Zacharyasz both dished out one assist each. Yoder earned her 28th career shutout after making five saves over 90 minutes.
 
FINAL PSAC TOURNAMENT PUSH
The top four teams in the Eastern and Western Division standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament. Heading into the last regular season match, Slippery Rock is fourth in the West standings with 22 points behind Gannon (34), Mercyhurst (28) and Seton Hill (24) who have all clinched spots in the conference tournament.
 
A win over the Clarion clinches a tournament berth for SRU out right, but a tie or loss will put The Rock in a situation of needing help from around the conference as it closely leads California (Pa.) (20) and Indiana (Pa.) (19) in the standings.
 
How SRU Can Qualify for the PSAC Tournament
· Win its final match vs. Clarion
· Tie its final match vs. Clarion + California loses at Edinboro
 
SRU is Eliminated If...
· Clarion defeats SRU + California wins at Edinboro
· SRU ties vs Clarion + California wins at Edinboro due to California currently owning the tiebreaker
 
If Slippery Rock does defeat Clarion, not only will it clinch a PSAC Tournament berth it could also climb from the fourth seed in the Western Division to the third if Seton Hill were to lose or tie in its regular season finale to Indiana.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Under head coach Jessica Giegucz, SRU is 35-16-9 (.667) in PSAC matches played on the road. In those contests, Slippery Rock has outscored its competitors by an impressive +49 margin (107-58) in addition to claiming 22 shutout wins and 41 contests allowing no more than one goal.
 
SHUTOUT SEASON
SRU earned its ninth shutout of the season in its 2-0 defeat of the Vulcans last week. Slippery Rock has now tied its largest number of single-season shutouts since the inaugural season of Giegucz in 2015. During the 2018 season The Rock tallied 11 shutouts.
 
Additionally, if SRU does not surrender a goal to the Golden Eagles Saturday, it will mark the first season since 2013 in which it has allowed only 12 goals over 18 games. The 2013 team allowed just 10 goals over 18 matches.
 
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
The Slippery Rock defense continues a stellar season as it ranks third in the PSAC in save percentage (.859) as well as being tied for fourth in goals allowed (12) and tied for fourth in opponent scoring average (.71).
 
SRU's defense has come up big when needed most, holding its opponents to just three total goals in the second half of competition over 17 matches.
 
Yoder, The Rock's veteran goalkeeper, is third in the conference in save percentage (.850), fourth in goals against average (0.71) and tied for fifth in saves (68).
 
OFFENSIVE PACKAGE
SRU has showcased its depth on offense as 13 different players have contributed at least one point this season. Leading the way is Rea with nine points on a team-high four goals to go along with one assist.
 
Swope and Morgan Sarver each total six points on two goals and two assists while DeLucio and Diffenbacher share stat lines of five points on two goals and one assist.
 
Mascaro continues to be The Rock's leading facilitator as she enters the weekend with five points on five assists.
 
Patrick and Jaime Dermotta have each compiled four points on the year on one goal and two assists as well as two goals respectively.
 
Rounding out SRU goal scorers are Diffenbacher, Munnikhuysen, Zacharyasz and Brooke Riefenstahl with one each.
 
Kosek tallies two assists while Riefenstahl and Zacharyasz each have dished out one apiece.
 
PREVIOUSLY vs. CLARION
Swope – 5 games: 3 goals, 4 assists
Rea – 5 games: 2 goals
Mascaro – 5 games: 3 assists
Patrick – 3 games: 2 goals, 1 assist
DeLucio – 2 games: 1 assist
Kosek – 2 games: 1 assist
Munnikhuysen – 1 game: 1 goal
Olivia Yoder – 1 game: 1 goal
Emma Yoder – 6 games (5-1): 19 saves, 2 goals allowed, 5 shutouts
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Nov. 1 – TBA at PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals
 
CLARION PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 4-10-3
PSAC West Record: 3-9-3
PSAC West Standings: Eighth
Home Record: 2-5-1
Away Record: 2-5-2
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Alexa Ream | Third season at Clarion (8-25-4)
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Last time out: Clarion earned a 1-0 shutout victory over Edinboro Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
 
Leading the Golden Eagles' offense is Jaci Bowser with six points on three goals. Accompanying her atop the Clarion attack is Kylee Cross with five points on one goal and three assists.
 
Golden Eagles goalkeeper Alex Velez enters the weekend first in the PSAC in saves (94), fourth in save percentage (.832) and eight in GAA (1.12).
 
In SRU and Clarion's meeting earlier this season Valez made nine saves over 90 minutes while surrendering four goals.
 
UP NEXT
If Slippery Rock qualifies for the PSAC Tournament it will play an opening-round game Nov. 1 against an opponent yet to be determined.








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