SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team officially opens its 2023 season with a pair of non-conference games this weekend at the Theresa Check Invitational on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Slippery Rock will first play American International College 3 p.m. Friday followed by a 3:30 p.m. Saturday contest against Maryville University.
 
ABOUT THE THERESA CHECK INVITATIONAL
This year's Theresa Check Invitational promises to be a great weekend of collegiate field hockey. The weekend will feature six total games with teams representing both Division I and Division II. Slippery Rock, Maryville and American International will serve as the Division II representatives with games against one another while host Miami, Indiana and Saint Francis will do the same in Division I competition.
 
The games featuring The Rock, AIC and Maryville is somewhat of a rarity inside the great state of Ohio, which features four colleges that sponsor the sport on the Division I level and six such in Division III, but is without a D2 field hockey school in the state's borders.

LIVE COVERAGE
Live coverage for this weekend's games is being provided by Miami University at the below links.

GAME 1 DETAILS
Opponent: American International
Date: Friday – 3 p.m.
Location: Miami Field Hockey Complex | Oxford, Ohio
Live Stats: Link
Live Video: Link
In-match Updates: X/Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 6-4
Last Played: Sept. 7, 2019 (AIC won 2-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
Slippery Rock holds a 6-4 all-time record against American International. The Rock and Yellow Jackets met on an annual basis for nine consecutive years between 2011-19, but have not played since the 2019 contest, a 2-1 AIC victory. Only two members of both active rosters played in the 2019 game – SRU's Kayla Del Vecchio and AIC's Na'Bree Wallace were both reserves in the contest.
 
GAME 2 DETAILS
Opponent: Maryville
Date: Saturday – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Miami Field Hockey Complex | Oxford, Ohio
Live Stats: Link
Live Video: Link
In-match Updates: X/Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 1-0
Last Played: Sept. 25, 2022 (SRU won 4-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. MARYVILLE
SRU was one of 13 teams that Maryville played in the program's first season of existence a year ago as The Rock traveled to Missouri and earned a 4-1 road victory on Sept. 25, 2022. Gianna Conti, Megan Rude, Bailee Christman and Haley Metcalf each picked up goals in the win while Del Vecchio pocketed two assists with Erin Roland and Sammy Graci adding one assist apiece as well.

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
2022 Stats: Link
2022 Overall Record: 7-10
2022 PSAC Record: 1-8
2022 Home Record: 5-4
2022 Away Record: 1-5
2022 Neutral Site Record: 1-1
2023 PSAC Preseason Poll: Ninth
Head Coach: Rayell Wallace | Fourth season at SRU (14-19)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
AN EXPERIENCED GROUP
While Slippery Rock does feature a large eight-athlete freshmen class, the 13 veterans on this year's team have all racked up significant experience so far in their collegiate careers with eight athletes having played at least 30 career games. Additionally, all SRU's returners have started games in a college uniform.
 
Career Games Played (Starts)
Kayla Del Vecchio: 50 (30)
Gianna Conti: 36 (24)
Samantha Karmonick: 33 (33)
Bailee Christman: 33 (27)
Leslie Colliver: 33 (14)
Haley Metcalf: 33 (16)
Grace Burker: 33 (33)
Gabriella Delcoco: 32 (18)
Erin Roland: 24 (24)
Megan Rude: 17 (16)
Alex Held: 17 (6)
Sammy Graci: 17 (4)
Grace Maynard: 12 (3)
 
OFFENSE NEARLY INTACT
SRU returns 93.5 percent of its offensive production from a season ago including its top seven goal scorers in Christman (7), Leslie Colliver (5), Erin Roland (5), Conti (4), Samantha Karmonick (2), Grace Maynard (2) and Rude (2).
 
Del Vecchio returns for a final season as well after setting up a large portion of The Rock's goals last year in the form of a program single-season record matching eight assists.
 
BURKER BACK FOR YEAR 3
Goalkeeper Grace Burker once again figures to anchor The Rock's defense as she returns for her third season. Burker is likely to join an exclusive list of Slippery Rock goalies that have been at least three-year starters over the last 20 years alongside Tara Bailey (2003-06), Lisa Belcastro (2007-10) and Carlee DuMars (2013-15).
 
Burker has started every game of her collegiate career since coming to The Rock as a freshman in 2021. All told, she has been on the field for 1,906:88 of a possible 2,007:53 minutes over the last two seasons. Burker, who was sixth in the nation in saves per game last year with 8.06, enters her junior year already ranked fourth in program history in total saves (212) and seventh in goalie wins (14).
 
A CHANCE AT HISTORY
SRU has won seven games in each of the previous two seasons. If The Rock were to win at least seven games this season, it would mark just the second time in program history that SRU teams produced three consecutive seasons with at least seven wins consecutive years. The only other era of Slippery Rock field hockey to have accomplished that feat previously was in 1975-77 (9-3, 10-3-1, 7-7).
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Dating back to the 2010 season, Slippery Rock holds a commanding 35-16 (.686) record against non-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams. SRU is 9-5 in non-conference games under head coach Rayell Wallace, including a dominant 6-2 showing last year.
 
ROCK SOLID ON NEUTRAL TURF
Historically speaking, Slippery Rock has performed well when playing an opponent at a neutral location. Over the last 11 years, SRU is 8-3 (.727) when playing neutral-site games.
 
NO PROBLEM PLAYING AWAY FROM PA
While The Rock plays the overwhelming majority of their games inside the state of Pennsylvania, SRU has proven to be dominant when playing outside of the Keystone State as evidenced by its 13-3 record (.813) in contests held in another state since 2012.
 
FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE
The 2023 Slippery Rock field hockey team has an extensive footprint. Not only does the SRU roster feature players from the states of Pennsylvania (9), New York (5), Virginia (3), New Jersey (1) and Ohio (1), it also has athletes that hail from England (1) and Canada (1).
 
RACKING UP CORNERS
Slippery Rock ranked ninth in all of Division II (35 teams) in penalty corners per game a season ago, and 12th overall out of the 117 teams that competed on the Division I or II levels, at 8.29. The 8.29 penalty corners per game were the most by a Rock team since 2012 (8.89).  
 
WELCOME TO THE ROCK
Making their collegiate debuts for SRU this season will be the freshmen class of Lacey Berghorn (Akron, N.Y.), Julia Boettler (Garnet Valley, Pa.), Hilary Hoffman (West Chester, Pa.), Lucy Hutchinson (Norwich, England), Leah Riegling (Cawston, British Columbia), Paige Shannon (Wernersville, Pa.), Madison Shomo (State College, Pa.) and Haylie Sucharski (Galena, Ohio).
 
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
While this weekend marks the first time that Slippery Rock has played a game in Ohio since defeating Ohio Wesleyan 2-1 on Oct. 13, 2002, the friendly confines of the Miami University Field Hockey Complex is familiar to head coach Rayell Wallace.
 
Wallace was an assistant coach for the RedHawks between 2015-19. She helped to guide Miami to a 65-40 (.619) record, four Mid-American Conference regular season titles, three MAC Championships and three NCAA Tournament berths before coming to SRU.
 
SRU IN SEASON OPENERS
Slippery Rock is 5-5 in its last 10 season-openers, but will be looking to snap a string of three straight season-opening losses.
 
THE ROCK IN BACK-TO-BACKS
On average, Slippery Rock plays one pair of back-to-back games (two games in consecutive days) per season. You must go all the way back to the 2013 season to find the last time that SRU was swept when playing two games in as many days.
 
Last year, Slippery Rock played a pair of two games in two days contests of which it went 1-1 both times. 
 
2023 HOME GAME THEMES ANNOUNCED
The Slippery Rock field hockey program has announced its special events calendar, which features an array of notable celebrations, tributes and commemorations for the 2023 season.
 
Sept. 8 (6 p.m.) vs. Frostburg State - Morgan's Message Game
Sept. 10 (12 p.m.) vs. Converse - First Responders Day
Sept. 23 (12 p.m.) vs. West Chester - Make-A-Wish Game
Sept. 30 (11 a.m.) vs. Millersville – Alumni Day
Oct. 10 (3 p.m.) vs. Mansfield - Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
Oct. 17 (4 p.m.) vs. Roberts Wesleyan - International Students Day
Oct. 27 (4 p.m.) vs. Bloomsburg – Senior Day
 
A PROMISING START
Wallace, who will be coaching her third year at The Rock in which contests will be played due to the cancelation of the 2020 season, has won 14 games at SRU. According to the NCAA coaches database, Wallace's win total is tied for the third highest total of all coaches in the nation (regardless of division) that coached their first collegiate games over the previous two seasons behind only Morgan Brozena (Kenyon / 23) and Rachel Palumbo (Catholic / 18).
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Sept. 8 (6 p.m.) vs. Frostburg State
Sept. 10 (12 p.m.) vs. Converse
Sept. 16 (11 a.m.) at Newberry
Sept. 17 (12 p.m.) at Wingate
Sept. 23 (12 p.m.) vs. West Chester
 
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: Leslie Colliver: 22
Active: Bailee Christman: 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: 9
Active: Leslie Colliver: 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: 212
 
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. Courtney Lee (2011-13): 16
7. Grace Burker: 14
 
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PRIMER
Roster: Link
2022 Stats: Link
2022 Overall Record: 2-16
2022 NE10 Record: 1-12
2022 Home Record: 1-7
2022 Away Record: 1-8
2022 Neutral Site Record: 0-1
2023 NE10 Preseason Poll: 10th
Head Coach: Rhonwen Peters | Fourth season at AIC (23-69)
 
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
• American International returns six players that started at least 11 games a season ago, but will be without four of its top six goal scorers from 2022. AIC's top returning offensive performers are Na'Bree Wallace (2 goals, 1 assist) and Morgan Martellio (2 goals).
 
• The Yellow Jackets' defense once again figures to be led by goalkeeper Taylor Wildes, who played all but 45 minutes last year. Wildes closed the season having made 118 saves with a .694 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA.
 
• American International went 2-16 last season after scoring 0.8 goals per game and allowing 2.7 a contest.
 
MARYVILLE PRIMER
Roster: Link
2022 Stats: Link
2022 Overall Record: 3-11
2022 Home Record: 2-5
2022 Away Record: 1-5
2022 Neutral Site Record: 0-1
Head Coach: Maggie Young | Second season at MU (3-11)
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
• 11 athletes return from last year's inaugural Maryville roster including five of the six Saints which registered at least one goal in 2022 led by Tia Sansone, who compiled 12 points on five goals and two assists.
 
• Delanie Winkelmann and Alison Tom are also back after matching two-goal seasons.
 
• Goalkeeper Liz Bierhals, who played every second of Maryville's 14 games in 2022, is also back after tallying 120 saves on a .741 save percentage to go with a 3.00 GAA as a freshman. Bierhals had five saves against The Rock last year.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock opens the home portion of its 2023 non-conference schedule when it hosts Frostburg State University 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The Frostburg State contest will serve as The Rock's "Morgan's Message Game".
 
Morgan's Message is a non-profit organization that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. Morgan's Message aims to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.
 
Morgan's Message was created in honor of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke Women's Lacrosse player who tragically lost her mental health battle and took her own life in 2019. Her friends and family joined together in 2020 on the 1st anniversary of her passing and wanted to turn their grief to empowerment to ensure that no athlete feels alone like Morgan did.





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