SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University women's soccer standout Sydney Patrick tallied a first-half brace that included the second Olimpico goal of her career to lift SRU to a 2-0 win over Clarion Saturday at James Egli Field.
 
The Rock improve to 6-4-4 on the year with a 6-2-3 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. The Golden Eagles fall to 2-12 overall and 1-10 in PSAC West competition.
 
Prior to kickoff, eight seniors – Patrick, Maddie DeLucio, Jaime Dermotta, Faith Diffenbacher, Jessica Girard, Nina King, Skylar Munnikhuysen and Olivia Yoder – were honored as part of SRU's Senior Day festivities.
 
Sophia Palermo was SRU's leading shot-taker with four of her seven total attempts falling on frame. Libby Zacharyasz placed three of her four shots on target with all three of Patrick's looks going to goal.
 
DeLucio and Yoder both took three shots as well, while Diffenbacher and Morgan Sarver recorded a pair of shots. Irene Doleno and Kierstyn Maxey rounded out the nine different shot-takers for The Rock with one each.
 
In net, Leah Allman made three saves to post a second consecutive shutout.
 
Slippery Rock paced the Golden Eagles through the first half by outshooting Clarion, 10-0. Four of SRU's shots in the opening 45 minutes were on target. The Rock additionally won 10 of the first half's 11 corner kicks with seven coming in the opening 14 minutes.
 
Patrick scored her first goal of the day to give Slippery Rock a 1-0 lead in the 19^th minute by burying a direct free kick straight into the net.
 
SRU's lead was doubled to 2-0 when Patrick scored 11 minutes later by converting an Olimpico – a corner kick played directly into the goal. Patrick scored the same type of goal last year in the first minute of a 3-2 win over Indiana University (Pa.) at James Egli Field.
 
The Rock almost took a three-goal lead into halftime, but DeLucio's 35^th-minute shot was denied by the crossbar.
 
Clarion looked to threaten early with its two first shots of the game coming in the opening 2:45 of the second half but was unable to cut into SRU's advantage.
 
SRU found multiple scoring opportunities in the second half to build onto its lead – including a 50^th-minute shot from Palermo that hit the post and a missed penalty kick in the 76^th minute. Regardless, The Rock were able to hold onto their two-goal edge from the first half of the match to see out their second home win of the year.
 
Slippery Rock maintained remarkable leads in shots (26-4), shots on goal (14-3) and corner kicks (17-1) throughout the game. Ciara DiMauro led Clarion with two shots on goal, while Sage Sherk made 11 saves in net for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Rock will next play under the lights in Erie, Pennsylvania against Gannon University 6 p.m. Oct. 30. The Golden Knights were ranked seventh nationally in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll. SRU played the then-No. 5 Golden Knights to a 1-1 draw earlier this season at home.





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