OXFORD, Ohio – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team earned its first victory of the 2023 season with a 3-2 shootout victory over Maryville University Saturday on day two of the Theresa Check Invitational on the campus of Miami University.
 
Both Slippery Rock and Maryville exit the opening weekend of the year with matching 1-1 overall records.
 
Gianna Conti led the way for The Rock by scoring both of Slippery Rock's regulation goals for her first multi-goal contest in a Slippery Rock uniform. Hilary Hoffman and Bailee Christman both picked up assists on Conti's goals.
 
Christman, Conti and Erin Roland all placed three shots on goal with Leslie Colliver placing two shots on target and freshman Madison Shomo tallying her first collegiate shot on goal as well.
 
After allowing two goals over the game's first four minutes, Grace Burker rebounded to make five saves and hold the Saints without another score for the duration of overtime and both overtime periods.
 
Slippery Rock was held without a shot for the entire first quarter as Maryville took its two-goal advantage into the second quarter. SRU's comeback commenced in earnest in the second 15 minutes of play as The Rock peppered the Saints' cage with four shots with the final attempt resulting in a Conti goal at 22:35 courtesy of Christman's assist.
 
Maryville took its one-goal lead into the halftime break and maintained the narrow advantage through the opening stages of the third quarter, but Conti would come up with equalizer in the 42nd minute via Hoffman's assist to make it a 2-2 game heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Both Slippery Rock and Maryville tallied three shots in the fourth quarter, but neither school could find the go-ahead score as the contest headed to overtime.
 
Following a defensive stalemate in the first overtime period, The Rock and Saints each posted one shot on goal in the second overtime, but Burker stopped Maryville's attempt while Christman's shot in the 79th minute was also saved by goalkeeper Liz Bierhals to send the contest into a shootout.
 
The shootout belonged to The Rock as Maryville missed four of its five attempts while Christman and Colliver each converted their shots to ensure a 3-2 Slippery Rock victory.
 
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.







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