OXFORD, Ohio - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost to American International College, 2-0, to open its 2023 season Friday on day one of the Theresa Check Invitational in Oxford, Ohio on the campus of Miami University.
 
The Yellow Jackets (1-0) recorded goals in the second and third quarters while holding off a late Slippery Rock (0-1) charge to earn the season-opening win.
 
SRU was led on the day by the trio of Hilary Hoffman, Erin Roland and Leslie Colliver – all of whom totaled multiple shots on goal with Roland pacing the pack at three while Hoffman and Colliver tallied two on-target attempts apiece.
 
Kayla Del Vecchio and Bailee Christman accounted for The Rock's remaining shots on goal with one each.
 
Goalkeeper Grace Burker played all 60 minutes for Slippery Rock, finishing with four saves and two goals allowed.
 
Following a scoreless first quarter, AIC posted what turned out to be the game-winning goal early on in the 22nd minute when Mayra Bok took advantage of an open Rock cage to slip a shot in and give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
 
SRU nearly tied the contest four minutes later, but Abby Clark was able to make a defensive save on a Hoffman attempt to maintain the slim one-goal advantage heading into halftime. Clark went on to add an insurance goal for American International nine minutes into third quarter.
 
Slippery Rock closed the game by earning four penalty corners and firing off 10 shots through the final 20 minutes of regulation, but ultimately was unable to break through the AIC defense in the eventual 2-0 defeat.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock held advantages over American International in total shots (13-6), shots on goal (9-6) and penalty corners (7-1).
 
Friday's game marked the collegiate debuts of Rock freshmen Hoffman, Haylie Sucharski, Lacey Berghorn, Madison Shomo, Julia Boettler, Lucy Hutchinson and Paige Shannon. Sucharski, Berghorn, Shomo, Boettler and Hoffman all started the game.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition on day two of the Theresa Check Invitational 3:30 p.m. Saturday against Maryville University. SRU defeated Maryville, 4-1, a season ago.




To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).