GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team dropped its first game of the year with a 9-6 defeat on the road at No. 20 Limestone University Saturday afternoon in South Carolina.
 
The Rock finished the game with advantages of 19-15 in shots on goal and 11-8 in draw controls, but Limestone goalie Madelyn DeSoto made 13 saves to keep the nationally ranked Saints from being upset.
 
Slippery Rock slips to 3-1 overall on the season, while Limestone improves to 4-3.
 
The Rock led 1-0 and 2-1 in the first half before Limestone put together a 3-0 run to open up a 4-2 lead late in the second quarter. SRU would cut the deficit to just one goal on four different occasions and had multiple chances at the tying goal, but could not solve DeSoto. The Saints added two insurance goals in the final eight minutes for the 9-6 win.
 
Slippery Rock played one of its cleanest games of the season and matched Limestone with just 12 turnovers on the day. The Rock were credited with a perfect 16-for-16 effort on clear attempts, while Limestone went 20-of-22.
 
SRU got three points from Emily Benham with one goal and two assists. Benham fired a team-high nine shots in the game. Jamie DiCarlo added one goal and one assist and Eryn Little and Katie Dlugosz each scored two goals. Molly Buettner and Rachel Mahoney each handed out one assist to cap the scorers.
 
Charleigh Rondeau pulled down seven draw controls and Taylor Baiers and Hailey Ohlsen each tallied two caused turnovers.
 
Gillian O'Rourke suffered her first loss of the season in goal after recording six saves and grabbing a team-high five ground balls.
 
Limestone got four goals from Elizabeth Muscella and three goals from Gracie DePaul. DeSoto finished with 13 saves and a game-high nine ground balls.
 
Slippery Rock will return to Pennsylvania to open the conference portion of the schedule Wednesday at 4 p.m. on the road at Mercyhurst University.
 


To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).