SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team played even with No. 1 Shippensburg University for the better part of all 60 minutes Saturday before a pair of late insurance goals gave the top-ranked Raiders a 3-0 victory.
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference loss moves Slippery Rock's record to 2-10 overall and 0-7 in league competition. The nationally ranked Raiders remain undefeated at 13-0 overall and 6-0 inside the PSAC.
 
While The Rock was unable to upset SU, the performance was significantly better than the Sept. 21 game between SRU and the Raiders in Shippensburg that resulted in a 10-1 loss for Slippery Rock.
 
SRU held Division II's top-ranked offense scoreless for the game's opening 24 minutes until Shippensburg capitalized on its second penalty corner of the day when Carme Caracotche Picone sent a pass to McKenna Boyle, who was able to bounce in a shot from nine yards out past Burker for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
 
To their credit, The Rock's defense re-grouped following Boyle's goal and continue to fend off the Raiders attack over the next 24 minutes to maintain a one-goal deficit with 12 minutes to play in regulation.
 
However, the Raiders went on to post a pair of fourth-quarter insurance goals by Agus Garibaldi in the 49th minute and Anne Gardner in the 51st minute on the way to the 3-0 victory.
 
Goalkeeper Grace Burker led another great performance by The Rock's defense, making five saves over 60 minutes. Additionally, Sammy Graci and Christina Clymer each provided SRU with defensive saves in what was a scoreless first quarter.
 
Clymer has now made defensive saves in three of Slippery Rock's last four games to increase her season total to a team-high six.
 
SRU's offense was paced by Gianna Conti and Hilary Hoffman at one shot apiece with Conti's being on target late in the second quarter.
 
For the game, Shippensburg held advantages over The Rock in total shots (16-2), shots on goal (10-1) and penalty corners (10-0).
 
Prior to Saturday's game, Burker, Conti, Leslie Colliver, Bailee Christman and Haley Metcalf were recognized as part of Slippery Rock's Senior Day celebration.
 
Slippery Rock continues its three-game homestand when it steps out of PSAC competition to host D'Youville University 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.




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