BUCKHANNON, W. Va. – The Slippery Rock University women's team opened the 2022 regular season Thursday with a 2-1 road victory against West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.
 
Goals by Ashley Rea and Jaime Dermotta proved to be the difference for Slippery Rock in its win over the Bobcats with Kylee Kosek assisting on Dermotta's score. The connection marked the first career points for both Dermotta and Kosek.
 
Overall, Rea recorded a game-high four shots with Dermotta adding two attempts as well. The quartet of Kosek, Kayla Swope, Julia Mascaro and Sydney Patrick all recorded one shot apiece.
 
Goalkeeper Emma Yoder made a pair of saves over 90 minutes to earn her 33rd career victory.
 
Slippery Rock largely controlled possession through the opening stages of the game as SRU produced steady pressure on Bobcat goalkeeper Ally Moore with shots that were just off target from Dermotta, Rea and Patrick through the opening 15 minutes.
 
SRU posted its first goal of the season following a foul in the 23rd minute as Rea fired a shot off the ensuing penalty kick that beat Moore to the right, giving The Rock a 1-0 lead.
 
However, West Virginia Wesleyan found the equalizer nine minutes later when Beth Burchett sailed a looping shot from around 23 yards out over the outstretched arms of Yoder and into the back right of the net.
 
The opening half ended with The Rock's defense clearing one corner and stopping a pair of West Virginia Wesleyan shots to head into the break even at 1-1.
 
The second half was a defensive stalemate as neither team was able to register a shot on goal until the 76th minute when Sydney Vilain appeared poised to take advantage of an open Rock net and give the Bobcats a lead only for a Rock defender to step in and make a crucial stop to maintain the tie.
 
SRU finally broke through the West Virginia Wesleyan backline in the 85th minute when Dermotta sent a shot past a diving Moore to the bottom right of the goal, giving The Rock a 2-1 lead on what was her first collegiate goal.
 
The Rock did not allow another Bobcat shot following Dermotta's goal as Slippery Rock secured its first season-opening win since 2018, which coincidently also came over West Virginia Wesleyan.
 
SRU concluded the contest holding advantages over West Virginia Wesleyan in shots (10-6) and corners (9-3) while the Bobcats edged SRU in shots on goal (4-3).
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition 1 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Fairmont State University at James Eglie Field for what will be SRU's final non-conference game of the regular season.
 
A win over FSU would give SRU its second 2-0 start to a season under head coach Jessica Giegucz.
 
 
 
 


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