Live Stats (Both Games)
 
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team will embark on its 2022 season this weekend with a pair of non-conference, neutral site contests in Gaffney, South Carolina on the campus of Limestone University.
 
The Rock first faces Pace University 11 a.m. Sunday followed by an 8 a.m. game Monday against Belmont Abbey College.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Free live in-game statistics for both games will be generously provided courtesy of the Limestone Media Relations office at the links below.
 
GAME 1 DETAILS
Opponent: Pace University
Date: Sunday – 11 a.m.
Location: Saints Field | Gaffney, South Carolina
Live Stats: Link
In-match Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Series tied 0-0
Last Played: N/A
 
GAME 2 DETAILS
Opponent: Belmont Abbey College
Date: Monday (Sept. 5) – 8 a.m.
Location: Saints Field | Gaffney, South Carolina
Live Stats: Link
In-match Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1
Last Played: Sept. 11, 2021 (BAC won 1-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. BELMONT ABBEY
The Rock and Crusaders have split a pair of matches in the all-time series with SRU having earned a 2-1 win in 2018 while Belmont Abbey recorded a 1-0 win a season ago at Slippery Rock.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
2021 Stats: Link
2021 Overall Record: 7-9
2021 PSAC Record: 4-6 (8th)
2021 Home Record: 4-5
2021 Away Record: 3-4
Last Five Games of 2021: 3-2
2022 PSAC Preseason Poll: Ninth
Head Coach: Rayell Wallace | Third season at SRU (7-9)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
STRONG CORE RETURNS
While Slippery Rock will be tasked with replacing 66.7 percent of its goal production (24-of-36) from a season ago, SRU does return 10 athletes who appeared in all 16 games in 2021, eight of which started at least 10 games including The Rock's lone all-conference honoree Addy Ross.
 
BURKER BACK TO ANCHOR DEFENSE
Goalkeeper Grace Burker started all 16 games and played what amounted to all but roughly four quarters on the year as a freshman, making 75 saves (.658) with a 2.63 goals against average while having a part in two shutouts. Across Division II, Burker ranked fifth among freshmen goalies in both total saves and GAA. Her seven wins also matched a Slippery Rock record for victories by a freshman goalkeeper.
 
Ross, who made one defensive save on the season, was voted to the All-PSAC Team a year ago following a breakout season in which she started all 16 games and led a Rock defense that limited opponents to two goals or less nine times.
 
Originally a member of the 2018 freshman class, Haley Plitt returned to The Rock's defense a season ago to appear in all 16 games with 15 starts and playing the third most minutes on the roster.
 
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING
Four athletes that scored multiple goals last season are back for another year at The Rock in Leslie Colliver (3), Samantha Karmonick (2), Bailee Christman (2) and Erin Roland (2). Ross, Nadia Irving and Kayla Del Vecchio also scored one goal apiece.
 
While The Rock's primary facilitator from last season – Jordyn Isner (6 assists) – is no longer with the program, Irving, Del Vecchio and Karmonick all tallied three assists last year with Colliver and Christman producing two apiece as well.
 
ROUNDING OUT THE RETURNERS
Gabriella Delcoco also returns after a 2021 season in which she made 10 starts over 16 contests appeared in while playing the ninth most minutes of any position player on last year's roster.
 
Haley Metcalf came off the bench to play in all 16 games as a reserve during her rookie season, finishing the year with one assist.
 
TRANSFER INFUSION
Gianna Conti is the newest member of SRU's sophomore class as she transferred to Slippery Rock after playing her freshman season at Belmont Abbey. While with the Crusaders, Conti recorded team-highs of 12 goals, which ranked 14th in Division II, and 25 total points while leading BAC to an 11-8 record. For her efforts, she was named to Synapse Sports' Division II All-Rookie Team in addition to garnering first team All-South Atlantic Conference Carolinas accolades.
 
FIRST TASTE OF COLLEGE HOCKEY
Joining Conti in The Rock's 2022 recruiting class is the rookie quartet of goalkeeper Kathryn Denham (Goshen, Kentucky), defender Sammy Graci (Henryville, Pennsylvania), forward Grace Maynard (Fredericksburg, Virginia) and forward/midfielder Megan Rude (Tonawanda, New York).
 
After having her freshman year canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and not appearing in a game last year, Alex Held will also be making her collegiate debut this year.
 
SRU IN SEASON-OPENERS
Slippery Rock is 5-4 in its last nine season-openers, but will be looking to snap a string of two straight season-opening losses in 2019 and 2021.
 
ROCK SOLID ON NEUTRAL TURF
Historically speaking, Slippery Rock has performed well when playing an opponent at a neutral location. Over the last decade SRU is 7-2 when playing neutral-site games.
 
FAST FINISHERS
The Rock finished the 2021 season by winning three of their final four games with the lone loss coming to eventual national champion Shippensburg.
 
SECOND HALF TEAM IN 2021
A year ago, Slippery Rock was at its best coming out of the halftime break. While it had a -6 goal margin (15-21) against opponents in the first half of games, SRU was +3 (21-18) in the second half.
 
WALLACE BACK YEAR 3
The 2022 season will mark the third year in which head coach Rayell Wallace has overseen the Slippery Rock field hockey program.
 
After guiding The Rock field hockey program through the difficulties of a canceled season in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic in what would have been her first year at SRU, Wallace led Slippery Rock to a 7-9 overall record in 2021; narrowly missing out on qualifying for the PSAC Tournament with a league mark of 4-6.
 
PACE PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
2022 Overall Record: 0-1
2021 Overall Record: 14-6
2021 NE10 Record: 10-4 (5th)
2021 Home Record: 8-1
2021 Away Record: 6-5
Last Five Games of 2021: 4-1
2022 NE10 Preseason Poll: Fifth
Head Coach: Kayte Kinsley | Sixth season at PU (62-35)
 
SCOUTING THE SETTERS
Pace dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Newberry on Thursday. The Setters' goals were scored by Sydney Sims and Krista Dietz.  

Led by head coach Kayte Kinsley, the Setters return seven of their top eight leading scorers from a year ago including Dietz, who was named the NE10 Rookie of the Year in 2021 after a freshman season in which she totaled 45 points on 20 goals and five assists.
 
Other top goal scorers back for Pace include Hannah Wyllie (4), Noelle Meij (4), Jessica Wolfe (4) and Francesca Fava (4). Wyllie also distributed a team-best eight assists.
 
Pace will have a new starting goalkeeper from a year ago as The Setters will turn to one of four freshmen on the roster to replace Grace Henderson, who ranked seventh in the country in save percentage and eighth in GAA in 2021. Alina Buerger started against Newberry, making two saves and allowing three goals in 60:25.
 
BELMONT ABBEY PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
2022 Overall Record: 0-1
2021 Overall Record: 11-8
2021 SAC: 6-6 (4th)
2021 Home Record: 6-1
2021 Away Record: 4-5
2021 Neutral Site Record: 1-2
Last Five Games of 2021: 2-3
2022 SAC Preseason Poll: Second
Head Coach: Chelsea Herlocker | First season at BAC (0-1)
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Belmont Abbey opened its 2022 season Sept. 1 with a 2-0 loss to Bloomsburg University in Clover, South Carolina.
 
The Crusaders were picked to finish second this season in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll. Belmont Abbey enters the 2022 season under new head coach Chelsea Herlocker.
 
While the Crusaders' top goal scorer from a year ago is now wearing a Slippery Rock uniform, Belmont Abbey does bring back five other multi-goal scorers from 2021 including Casey Etter who netted 10 goals and four assists for 24 total points as a freshman. Etter put three shots on goal against Bloomsburg.
 
Belmont Abbey also has the luxury of having goalie Chloe Parker, who played all but eight minutes and totaled 95 saves (.766) and a 1.50 GAA in 2021, back this year.
 
UP NEXT
SRU returns to The Rock to host Franklin Pierce University 4 p.m. Sept. 9 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium for a non-conference game on Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day.





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