SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team saw its season get off to a great start by defeating Davis & Elkins College 6-1 Thursday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU's offensive onslaught served as the program's third highest goal output in a season opener all-time behind only a pair of seven-goal performances in 2004 and 2011.

The Rock's 1-0-0 start continues their streak of success in season openers. Of SRU's 30 seasons, Thursday's match was the 17th time they have kicked off the year with a victory. Davis & Elkins, a program that has never defeated Slippery Rock, begins its season 0-1-0.

While there were several who contributed to Slippery Rock's success, returning sophomore Morgan Sarver was the star that shined brightest under the lights. Not only did Sarver score one goal, she also matched a Slippery Rock single-game record with four assists.

Sydney Patrick enjoyed a five-point night of her own after scoring a pair of goals and assisting on another. Maddie Delucio, Lindsey Price and Skylar Munnikhuysen rounded out The Rock's goal scorers in the victory with Olivia Yoder chipping in an assist as well.

Freshman goalkeeper Leah Allman played all 90 minutes and stopped a pair of shots in her collegiate debut.

SRU saw its attack convert in the eighth minute of the game when Sarver sent in a cross from the right that took a one-time hop off the toe of DeLucio straight into the back of the net.

Just a minute later, Sarver sent a through ball to Patrick, who lasered a goal into the lower 90 past the keeper. Skylar Munnikhuysen then made it a 3-0 contest when she made a long run courtesy of a Patrick pass before finally registering her second career goal at The Rock.

In the 29th minute, Sarver, who had already contributed two assists, got to have the final touch for a score of her own. The goal came on a long pass from Yoder.

After going down 4-0 in the first half, the Senators began the final 45 minutes on the attack. On just its second shot of the game, D&E's Madison Rose snuck an attempt past Allman to trim The Rock's lead to 4-1 in the 53rd minute.

The Rock would soon answer by re-entering a handful of starters and scoring in the 65th minute when Sarver once again found Patrick.

While the returners showed incredible promise, Slippery Rock's freshmen made great strides as well. Most notably, in her first match as a member of the program, Price cashed in on yet another Sarver assist in the 70th minute to put a bow on Slippery Rock's 6-1 win.

From whistle to whistle, Slippery Rock's offense kept the gas pedal down, totaling 30 shots all the while limiting D&E to just five. In the occasional threats put forth by the Senators, Slippery Rock's defense, guided by the likes of Faith Diffenbacher, Nina King, Brooke Riefenstahl and Libby Zacharyasz, quickly thwarted the attacks.

Slippery Rock also closed the game holding advantages over Davis & Elkins in both shots on goal (13-3) and corners (14-0).

The Rock will finish off their non-conference schedule when they travel to reigning Mountain East Conference champions Fairmont State University 1 p.m. Sunday. SRU and FSU played to a 0-0 tie a year ago in Slippery Rock.


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