SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team celebrated Senior Day by clinching a postseason berth and completing a season sweep over rival Indiana University (Pa.) with a 14-5 win in a crucial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division game from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.  
 
The Rock improve to 12-3 overall and stay second in the PSAC Western Division with an 8-2 record in division games, locking up a guaranteed spot in the PSAC Playoffs. The worst SRU can do is 8-4 in the division and courtesy of season sweeps over Lock Haven and IUP, Slippery Rock would win any tiebreak scenario involving those teams. Seton Hill has already locked up the No. 1 seed and the first round bye. SRU can lock up the No. 2 seed and earn a home quarterfinal game with a win at Edinboro Wednesday. IUP stays fourth in the division and slips to 7-8 overall and 6-4 in PSAC games.
 
The postseason berth marks just the third PSAC playoff berth in program history and the first since the 2018 season for Slippery Rock, which is now one win away from tying the 2018 team (13-5) for the most wins in a single-season in program history.
 
The Rock jumped out to a 4-1 lead Saturday and opened up a 7-1 lead by halftime thanks to stellar goalkeeping and timely scoring. Gillian O'Rourke, who tied the SRU career record for ground balls with 166, made seven saves in the first half to help her team open up a lead that IUP could not recover from. O'Rourke finished the game by matching her season-high with 14 saves to go along with three ground balls.
 
O'Rourke tying the career ground ball record was one of many milestones reached for SRU players in the game. Charleigh Rondeau grabbed 13 draw controls to bring her career total to 502, becoming the first player in program history to reach 500 draw controls. She is now the first player in SRU history to reach 300, 400 and 500 draw controls in a career. The next-best total in program history is Lauren Laubach's 271.
 
Fellow senior Lauren Searles also tallied three assists in the game to bring her career total to 101 points, making her the third player this season to reach 100 points and the 20th player in program history to hit the milestone.
 
Reagan Richeson paced the attack with four goals, while Krysta Frankowski chipped in two goals and two assists and Camryn Whipple added a hat trick. Brooke Wisniewski added two goals to round out the players with multiple points.
 
SRU also got one goal each from Rachel Mahoney, Erin Melcher and Rondeau to account for the final points in the game.
 
All six of The Rock's true seniors and grad student Rondeau made an impact in the game Saturday after being recognized in the pregame ceremony for Senior Day. Rondeau had a goal and 13 draw controls, O'Rourke made 14 saves, Searles handed out three assists, Whipple scored three goals, Wisniewski scored two goals, Mahoney scored one goal and Grace Garbatowicz picked up a key ground ball and helped The Rock defense hold IUP to a season-low five goals.
 
The Crimson Hawks were led by Leah Moyer with a hat trick. Maddy Schramm played 33:11 in goal and took the loss after allowing nine goals and recording three saves. Mia Courtalis also played 26:49 in goal and allowed five goals while making five saves.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with advantages of 27-20 in shots, 17-5 in draw controls and 13-12 in caused turnovers. IUP managed a 24-22 edge in ground balls.
 
SRU will now shift its focus to a home game Wednesday against Edinboro, where The Rock can tie the program record for single-season wins and lock up a home playoff game with a victory. First draw is set for 4 p.m.
 



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