SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - For a third consecutive game, the Slippery Rock University field hockey team will play a nationally ranked team when it hits the road for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest 12 p.m. Saturday at No. 2 Shippensburg University.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics for Saturday's game will be provided by the Shippensburg Sports Information office.
 
GAME 13 DETAILS
Opponent: Shippensburg University
Date: Saturday – 12 p.m.
Location: Robb Sports Complex  |  Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: X/Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Shippensburg leads 48-6-1
Last Played: Oct. 7, 2022 (SU won 6-0)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Shippensburg holds a 48-6-1 record against The Rock dating back to the 1979 season. A year ago, the Raiders earned a 5-0 victory over SRU at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Erin Roland tallied three shots, Grace Burker stopped 10 shots and Alex Held made one defensive save to lead Slippery Rock in the game.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 2-10
PSAC Record: 0-5
PSAC Standings: 9th
Home Record: 0-5
Away Record: 1-4
Neutral Site Record: 1-1
Streak: L6
Last Five Games: 0-5
Head Coach: Rayell Wallace | Fourth season (16-29)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock dropped a 5-1 home decision Tuesday to No. 7 Mansfield University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
RUDE GETS ON THE BOARD
The highlight of The Rock's game against Mansfield was Megan Rude notching her first goal of the season. Rude is Slippery Rock's sixth different goal scorer of the year.
 
The strike served as Rude's third career goal: she also had a pair of goals as a freshman in 2021.
 
THE ROCK ATTACK
Slippery Rock's offensive efforts have been led by freshman Hilary Hoffman, who enters the Shippensburg game with a team-high seven points on three goals and one assist.
 
Gianna Conti is tied with Hoffman for the team-lead in goals with three as well while the quartet of Rude, Bailee Christman, Erin Roland and Grace Maynard have all pocketed one goal apiece.
 
Hoffman, Christman and Haley Metcalf have accounted for SRU's three assists in 2023.
 
SRU's goal scoring has been evenly distributed throughout the game for the most part with three goals in the second, third and fourth quarters as well as one in the first quarter and finally a team goal credited in the second overtime for the team's shootout win over Maryville.
 
ATTACKING THE CAGE
Through 12 games, Slippery Rock has placed 65 of its 88 total shots for the year on goal. Hoffman and Roland have combined to produce 27 of the shots on goal with 15 and 12, respectively.
 
Others with multiple shots on goal this year include Christman (9), Conti (8), Maynard (2), Leslie Colliver (7), Kayla Del Vecchio (5) and Madison Shomo (2).
 
Rounding out the attempt leaders with one shot on goal apiece are Rude, Metcalf, Samantha Karmonick and Haylie Sucharski.
 
THE ROCK DEFENSE
Slippery Rock heads to Shippensburg allowing 2.5 goals per game on 14.3 opponent attempts.
 
Grace Burker anchors The Rock's defense. SRU's starting goalkeeper has played every second this season, making 76 saves for a .717 save percentage and a 2.35 Goals Against Average. Burker's 6.33 saves per game is the second highest average among all PSAC goalies.
 
TOUGH SLATE CONTINUES
Saturday's game will mark the third time in the last four games, and sixth overall contest of the season, in which Slippery Rock has played a team ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top-10.  
 
In addition to Shippensburg, other Slippery Rock opponents that were ranked at the time of their contest versus SRU include No. 9 Newberry, No. 3 West Chester, No. 8 Millersville, No. 1 East Stroudsburg and No. 7 Mansfield.
 
Looking ahead, two of Slippery Rock's final four opponents following Saturday's game are currently ranked in No. 3 Kutztown and No. 8 Bloomsburg.
 
WINS vs. NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
Since the 2010 season, Slippery Rock has won nine games against nationally ranked teams. The Rock's previous wins against nationally ranked teams include victories against Kutztown (2017 / No. 5), West Chester (2017 / No. 3), East Stroudsburg (2014 / No. 5), Bloomsburg (2013 / No. 7), Indiana (2011 / No. 6, 2010 / No. 7, 2010 / No. 8) and LIU Post (2010 / No. 5).

NEXT FIVE GAMES
Oct. 17 (4 p.m.) vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Oct. 21 (3 p.m.) at Kutztown
Oct. 24 (7 p.m.) at Mercyhurst
Oct. 27 (4 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg
 
CAREER RECORDS WATCH
Points (No. 16-18)
16. Samantha Badaczewski (2007-10): 32
16. Katie Krouse (2007-10): 32
18. Vicki Peterson (1994-97): 28
18: Nicole Hess (2001-04): 28
18: Barb Watson (1974-76): 28
Active: Bailee Christman: 25
Active: Leslie Colliver: 22
 
Goals (No. 18-20)
18. Cathy Copeman (1975-76): 13
18. Marlene Krieger (1977-80): 13
20. Samantha Badaczewski (2007-10): 12
20. Katie Krouse (2007-10): 12
20: Nicole Hess (2001-04): 12
20: Jennifer Kress (2002-03): 12
Active: Bailee Christman: 10
Active: Leslie Colliver: 8
Active: Erin Roland: 8

Assists
1. Megan McKay (2013-16): 15
2. Allie Hartman (2007-10): 14
3. Samantha Griffith (2001-02): 13
4. Kayla Del Vecchio: 11
4. Kailee Krupski (2014-17): 11
4. Gabrielle Malishchak (2009-12): 11
 
Saves
1. Lisa Belcastro (2007-10): 689
2. Tara Bailey (2003-06): 627
3. Carlee DuMars (2012-15): 279
4. Grace Burker: 278
 
Goalie Wins
1. Judith Johns (1986-89): 33
2. Kerry McKnight (1996-99): 23
3. Sue Everden (1975-76): 19
3. Amy Bricker (1991-95): 19
3. Carlee DuMars (2012-15): 19
6. Grace Burker: 16
6. Courtney Lee (2011-13): 16
 
SHIPPENSBURG PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
NFHCA Top-10: 2nd
Overall Record: 11-2
PSAC Record: 5-0
PSAC Standings: 1st
Home Record: 7-0
Away Record: 4-2
Streak: W8
Last Five Games: 5-0
Head Coach: Tara Zollinger | Sixth season (95-20)
 
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Shippensburg carries an eight-game winning streak into Saturday's game with its only setbacks this season being a 2-1 double overtime loss to Saint Anselm and a 2-0 defeat on the road at Mansfield.
 
The Raiders average 3.15 goals on 17.4 shots per game while allowing just 1.08 goals and 9.7 shots a contest.
 
Shippensburg's offensive exploits are centered around the trio of Agus Garibaldi (eight goals / nine assists), Tess Jedeloo (10 goals / five assists) and Yasmin De Meyer (9 goals / 2 assists).
 
Goalkeeper Emma Albee has played 698:47 of a possible 799:26 this season. She is 10-1 with four shutouts, 55 saves, a .833 save percentage and a 0.94 GAA. Lindsey Tripodo has also seen time in three games, going 1-1 with eight saves (.727) and a 1.79 GAA.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock steps out of conference competition to host Roberts Wesleyan University 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium on International Students Day at The Rock.






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