GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2022-23. This page will serve as the "Digital Game Program" for this week's game. To navigate to all gameday info for any SRU home events this year, simply visit rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the "Gameday Info" posters hanging in each facility.
 

Slippery Rock vs. Mercyhurst
The Rock (4-6-2)	Lakers (7-2-3)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Jessica Giegucz	Coach Lucas Fievet
Program Records	All-Time Results
James Egli Field
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team is ready to host Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division leader Mercyhurst University 3 p.m. Saturday at James Egli Field.

WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Saturday's game live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
 
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
 
GAME 13 DETAILS
Opponent: Mercyhurst University
Date: Saturday – 3 p.m.
Location: James Egli Field
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Lakers lead 16-12-3
Last Played: Sept. 10, 2022 (Tied 1-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst holds a 16-12-3 lead in the all-time series over Slippery Rock. When hosting the Lakers, The Rock is 8-6 and has outscored the Lakers 28-16 with nine contests holding Mercyhurst to no more than one goal.

LAST MEETING
Earlier this season, SRU played the Lakers to a 1-1 draw on the road in Erie, Pennsylvania. Trailing by one goal early in the second half, Faith Diffenbacher scored the equalizer for The Rock on an assist by Sydney Patrick to force a tie. Emma Yoder recorded a season-high seven saves over 90 minutes.

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 4-2-6
PSAC West Record: 3-2-5
PSAC West Standings: Tied for fourth
Home Record: 1-1-4
Away Record: 3-1-2
Last Five Games: 3-1-1
Streak: T1
Head Coach: Jessica Giegucz | Eighth season at SRU (80-36-15)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock played its fourth scoreless tie result this season when it hosted Gannon University Wednesday at James Egli Field. Ashley Rea led the attack with four shots, landing two on goal. Yoder collected her seventh shutout of the year after making five saves.

THE YEAR OF THE SHUTOUT
After Wednesday's scoreless tie, Slippery Rock has now tallied seven shutouts this year. SRU is just one shutout away from claiming its fifth consecutive season with at least eight shutout wins.
 
The Rock has now held their opponents to no goals in four consecutive contests for the first time since 2018. If SRU were to hold Gannon scoreless it would match SRU's second longest shutout streak in program history of five from 2018.
 
Slippery Rock's longest shutout streak was an 11-game run during the 2011 season.
 
CONFERENCE RESUME
Slippery Rock is in search of its seventh winning PSAC West record under head coach Jessica Giegucz and currently holds a 68-24-13 (.648) overall mark in conference competition since 2015.
 
Additionally, SRU proves tough in divisional matches at home having maintained a solid 41-12-5 (.719) record and has outscoring those PSAC competitors 126-42 (+84) while earning 26 shutout wins.
 
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
As a team, The Rock are tied for fourth in the conference in goals allowed (7) and opponent scoring average (.58). Slippery Rock continues to show its dominance through the conclusion of contests holding its opponents to just one second-half goal this season.
 
SRU has just two games this season in which it has allowed more than one goal. After holding Gannon scoreless Wednesday, this year marks the first time since the 2014 season in which The Rock have allowed only seven goals over their first 12 matches.
 
Anchoring the defense is Yoder who is second in the conference in saves (49) and save percentage (.875) in addition to being fourth in the PSAC in goals against average (0.58).
 
ON THE ATTACK
Pacing the Slippery Rock offense is Kayla Swope with six points on two goals and two assists. Rea is second five points on two goals and one assist followed by Jaime Dermotta with four points on two goals.
 
Six other Rock players have scored a goal this year in Diffenbacher, Patrick, Maddie DeLucio, Skylar Munnikhuysen, Brooke Riefenstahl and Morgan Sarver.
 
Rounding out the offense is Julia Mascaro with a team-high three assists while Patrick (2), DeLucio (1), Sarver (1) and Kylee Kosek (2) have each produced at least one assist this season.
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT HORIZONS
SRU has worked its way into a tie for fourth in the PSAC West standings with Pitt-Johnstown at 14 points. The top four teams in both the PSAC West and PSAC East standings at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Entering the weekend, Gannon and Mercyhurst are currently in a tie for first in the West with 21 points, while Seton Hill is second with 16 points.
 
Slippery Rock is now just one point away from a sole possession of fourth in the division. Slippery Rock has made 11 consecutive trip to the PSAC Tournament.

PROGRAM HISTORY CHECK
Yoder, SRU's all-time leader in saves (225), is also tied for second in starts by a goalie (57) and shutouts (26) in addition to ranking third in goalie wins (36). With six regular season matches remaining, Yoder is just four shutouts away from passing Dana O'Neill (2009-13) for first all-time. 
 
She currently ranks eighth in Rock women's soccer program history in consecutive games started and with at least six games remaining in the season, she is on pace to finish her collegiate career fourth all-time.
 
Swope is tied for 11th in career assists alongside Danielle Cooper (2005-07) with 16.  
 
PREVIOUSLY vs MERCYHURST
Diffenbacher – 3 games: 1 goal
Mascaro – 5 games: 1 assist
Patrick – 3 games: 1 assist
Yoder – 5 games (2-2-1): 18 saves, 5 goals allowed

NEXT FIVE GAMES
Oct. 12 – 4 p.m. at Indiana (Pa.)
Oct. 15 – 12 p.m. at Pitt-Johnstown
Oct. 19 – 4 p.m. vs. California (Pa.)
Oct. 22 – 1 p.m. vs. Edinboro (Senior Day)
Oct. 29 – 7 p.m. at Clarion
  
MERCYHURST PRIMER
Overall Record: 7-2-3
PSAC West Record: 6-1-3
PSAC West Standings: Tied for first
Home Record: 4-1-1
Away Record: 3-1-2
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Streak: T1
Head Coach: Lucas Fievet | First season at MU (2-1-2)
 
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Last time out: Mercyhurst battled Edinboro to a 0-0 draw Wednesday on the road.
 
Karah Van Horn paces the Laker offense tied for third in the conference with six goals this year. Following is the duo of Lauren Casey and Emily Mijares with three goals apiece.
 
Starting goalkeeper Maddie Elbro's 0.67 GAA puts her fifth in the conference in addition to having a .833 save percentage and 40 saves.
 
Earlier this season, Van Horn scored the Lakers lone goal in their 1-1 tie with The Rock while Elbro made four saves and allowed one goal over 90 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock travels to Indiana University (Pa.) for a PSAC West matchup against the Crimson Hawks 4 p.m. Oct. 12. Earlier in the season, SRU and IUP played to a 2-2 tie at James Egli Field.








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