SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team earned a season sweep over No. 15 Lock Haven with a convincing 22-9 victory in a key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game Wednesday evening from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock improve to 10-2 overall and 6-1 in PSAC West action with their sixth straight win, keeping pace with one-loss Seton Hill atop the division standings. The 10 wins marks the first time in program history that SRU has strung together three straight 10-win seasons after posting 10 wins in both 2022 and 2023. All three of those seasons have come under the direction of head coach Taryn Burkholder, who becomes the first coach in program history to have three 10-win seasons.
 
The Bald Eagles (11-2, 6-2 PSAC) entered the game ranked No. 15 in the latest USA Lacrosse Magazine national poll with an 11-1 overall record and a 6-1 mark in PSAC West games. The only blemish on their record was a 14-12 loss against SRU in Lock Haven back on March 27. The Rock trailed 6-0 early in that game, but flipped the script Wednesday and dominated the first period to jump out to an 8-1 lead after 15 minutes.
 
Slippery Rock put the game into a running clock situation with a 10-goal lead before the end of the first half and maintained a comfortable cushion for the entire second half to cruise to the win.
 
Charleigh Rondeau was dominant in the draw circle, tying her own single-game school record with 18 draw controls. Her efforts in the circle led to a massive 28-6 advantage in draw controls, which helped SRU double up Lock Haven 32-16 in shot attempts. Rondeau also added two goals and three assists to finish with five points.
 
Slippery Rock got seven points from Lauren Searles, who tallied a season-high six goals and handed out one assist. Reagan Richeson added a career-high six goals as well, giving her 10 goals in two games against Lock Haven this season. SRU also got four assists from Camryn Whipple, who moved into sole possession of No. 2 on the SRU single-season assist ledger with 32 assists this spring. She is now five helpers away from tying Emily Benham's single-season record of 37 assists (2022).
 
Krysta Frankowski added one goal and two assists and Brooke Wisniewski chipped in two goals. The multiple-point efforts were capped by Eryn Little, who made her season debut after missing most of the last two seasons with a pair of serious injuries. She scored on her second shot of the season and finished with one goal and one assist.
 
SRU got one goal each from Rachel Mahoney, Sydney Ulmer, Erin Melcher and Maddie Blazey to round out the scoring.
 
Gillian O'Rourke picked up her 10th win of the season in goal after recording seven saves.
 
Lock Haven managed a 9-7 edge in ground balls and went 13-of-14 on clear attempts. SRU went a perfect 9-for-9 on the clear and both teams finished with five caused turnovers in a game that only featured 14 total turnovers.
 
The Bald Eagles got two goals and one assist from Makayla Kelly and Abby Katrinak and one goal and two assists from Gabby Gunnip. Dana Mirigliano was credited with seven saves in goal.
 
Slippery Rock will have little time to savor the win as it will travel to Seton Hill Saturday for a noon game, where the winner will be the solo leader in the PSAC West and will control their own destiny in the race for the division title and No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
 
 

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