SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost a non-conference game to Converse University, 2-1, Sunday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 1-3 on the year while the Valkyries improve to 2-1. Two of SRU's three losses this season have been one-goal defeats.
 
Erin Roland registered her first goal of the season to pace Slippery Rock's efforts Sunday. Bailee Christman and Hilary Hoffman accounted for two shots on goal apiece as well while Kayla Del Vecchio and Madison Shomo also posted on-target attempts.
 
Rock goalkeeper Grace Burker played the duration of the game, finishing with 10 saves.
 
Slippery Rock and Converse played to a scoreless tie through the opening quarter before Emily Whitlow netted the game's opening goal with a score in the 20th minute. CU appeared poised to take its one-goal lead into the halftime break before a strong Rock push resulted in Roland's goal with just 13 seconds left in the second quarter.
 
The goal occurred when Converse goalkeeper Kathryn Daniels blocked a Christman attempt, sending the ball bouncing 12 yards from the cage which allowed Roland to scoop up the rebound and flip a shot by Daniels for the equalizer.
 
The contest remained deadlocked at 1-1 over the opening 27 minutes of the second half, but just as it appeared SRU was headed to overtime for a third consecutive game, Brooklyn Widdess was able to beat Burker for the go-ahead goal with only 2:34 left in the fourth quarter.
 
Slippery Rock was unable to come away with another game-tying goal as Converse hung on for the tight win.
 
Converse closed the game holding advantages over The Rock in total shots (14-9), shots on goal (12-7) and penalty corners (6-2).
 
Slippery Rock will look to snap its two-game losing streak when it heads south for games Sept. 16 at Newberry College and Sept 17 at Wingate University.




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).