SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team begins a season-long three-game road trip with back-to-back non-conference games in New York.
 
THE SCHEDULE
SRU opens its road swing 12 p.m. Sunday in Garden City, New York against Adelphi University followed 24 hours later with a 12 p.m. Monday tilt against No. 9 Pace University in Pleasantville, New York.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and live in-game statistics will be available for both games this weekend at the below links. All athletic events hosted by Northeast 10 Conference teams are streamed via FloSports, which is a subscription-based service starting at $8.33 a month.
 
GAME 2 DETAILS
Opponent: Adelphi University
Date: Sunday – 12 p.m.
Location: Garden City, New York
Venue: Motamed Field
Video: Link ($)
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: X (formerly Twitter)
All-Time Series: AU leads 1-0
Last Played: Sept. 20, 2009 (AU won 3-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Behind two goals from Natasha Pedzik, Adelphi earned a 3-0 win against The Rock in the lone meeting to date between the two schools all the way back on Sept. 20, 2009.
 
GAME 3 DETAILS
Opponent: Pace University
Date: Monday – 12 p.m.
Location: Pleasantville, New York
Venue: Peter X. Finnerty Field
Video: Link ($)
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: X (formerly Twitter)
All-Time Series: PU leads 1-0
Last Played: Sept. 4, 2022 (PU won 3-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Much like the Adelphi series, Slippery Rock and Pace have met once previously with the Setters capturing a 3-1 victory on Sept. 4, 2022 in Gaffney, South Carolina. Former Rock standouts Addy Ross and Samantha Karmonick combined for SRU's lone score while Krista Dietz had a goal and an assist for Pace.
 
Seven active members Rock athletes, and six from Pace, appeared in the 2022 game.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 1-0
PSAC Record: 0-0
Home Record: 1-0
Away Record: 0-0
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Rayell Wallace | Fifth season at SRU (19-32)
 
ROCK LEADERS
POINTS: Bailee Christman (4), Hilary Hoffman (1)
GOALS: Christman (2)
ASSISTS: Hoffman (1)
S.O.G.: Christman (3), Gianna Conti (2)
SAVES: Grace Burker (2)
 
BY THE NUMBERS
2018 – Last time The Rock started 2-0.
.565 – The Rock's winning percentage in non-conference games under head coach Rayell Wallace (13-10).
9 – One-goal victories for Slippery Rock in Wallace's four-year tenure.
6 – Number of times The Rock have won its first three games of a season in the program's 52-year history.
5 – Players to make SRU debut in win vs. Frostburg State.
 
ONE GAME, ONE WIN
On the back of two Bailee Christman goals, Slippery Rock kickstarted its 2024 season with a 2-1 comeback victory Sept. 5 over Frostburg State University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The victory marked SRU's first win in a season-opener since beating St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-1, in 2018.
 
BEST THING ABOUT BEING 1-0?
Slippery Rock's victory against Frostburg State gives SRU the chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2018 - and just the fifth time over the last 26 seasons.
 
LETS GET ON A ROLL
A win over Adelphi coupled with a victory against Pace would give The Rock a 3-0 record and push this year's team into rare company over the program's 52-year history.
 
Prior to this year only the 1976, 1978, 1987, 2012, 2014 and 2018 editions of SRU field hockey have gone 3-0. The longest winning streak to start a season in program history is six games in 1976.
 
SECOND HALF STOPPERS
Dating back to the end of the 2023 season, Slippery Rock has gone three straight games without allowing a goal in the second half. Against Frostburg State, The Rock not only held the Bobcats without a goal, they also limited FSU to just one shot in the final 30 minutes.
 
CHRISTMAN NETS TWO
The Frostburg State victory was highlighted by the play of Bailee Christman, who posted the first two-goal game of her collegiate career while tallying three shots on goal. Christman's first goal saw her beat FSU's goalkeeper to the left for the equalizer followed by the eventual game-winning strike via a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter.
 
The victory over Frostburg State also continued a trend of great things happening for SRU when Christman is involved in scoring plays. Slippery Rock is now 14-2 when Christman scores a goal or passes out an assist.
 
The two goals also moved Christman into a tie for 18th place in program history for career goals scored (13).
 
HOFFMAN PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Hilary Hoffman, who totaled 10 points on four goals and two assists during a strong freshman season in 2023, appears poised to carry over the momentum from her rookie campaign this year as she's already earned one assist by setting up Bailee Christman's game-tying goal against Frostburg State. 
 
BURKER GETS WIN 19
After stopping two of the three shots she faced and shutting out Frostburg State for the final 51 minutes of The Rock's home-opener, goalkeeper Grace Burker earned the 19th win of her college career.
 
The 19 wins are tied for the third most victories by a goalie in program history. The senior goalie is now four wins away from tying Kerry McKnight (1996-99) for second place.
 
CONTI ON THE ATTACK
Gianna Conti recorded two shots on goal against Frostburg State for what was the eighth game of her Slippery Rock career with multiple shots on goal in a game. Dating back to her arrival to The Rock as a transfer from Belmont Abbey in 2022, only Leslie Colliver has more games with two or more shots on goal than Conti with 10.
 
A proven scorer on the collegiate level, Conti has registered 22 goals between her time at Slippery Rock and Belmont Abbey.
 
WELCOME BACK
In addition to Conti, Christman, Hoffman and Burker, six other returners made their season debuts for SRU against FSU.
 
Madison Shomo, Megan Rude and Haley Metcalf all drew starting assignments with Leslie Colliver and Sammy Graci coming off the bench. Colliver, who scored four goals a year ago, collected one of The Rock's seven shots in the win.
 
ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION
Of the 14 players to see playing time against Frostburg State, five were making their Slippery Rock debuts.
 
Transfers Christina Clymer (Ball State) and Hazara Sandhu (York) both earned starts as did true freshmen Riley Cloude and Feli Stockler. Fellow rookie Grace Williams came on as a reserve and registered one shot attempt.
 
COMFORTABLE OUT OF STATE
While The Rock plays the overwhelming majority of their games inside the state of Pennsylvania, SRU has proven to be dominant when playing outside of the Keystone State as evidenced by its 15-6 record (.714) in contests held outside of the commonwealth's boarder since 2012.
 
THE ROCK IN BACK-TO-BACKS
On average, Slippery Rock plays one pair of back-to-back games (two games in consecutive days) per season. You must go all the way back to the 2013 season to find the last time that SRU was swept when playing two games in as many days. Last year, Slippery Rock played a pair of two games in two days contests of which it went 1-1 both times.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Dating back to the 2010 season, Slippery Rock holds a commanding 39-21 (.650) record against non-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams. SRU is 13-10 in non-conference games under head coach Rayell Wallace.
 
WINS vs. NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
Since the 2010 season, Slippery Rock has won nine games against nationally ranked teams. The Rock's previous wins against nationally ranked teams include victories against Kutztown (2017 / No. 5), West Chester (2017 / No. 3), East Stroudsburg (2014 / No. 5), Bloomsburg (2013 / No. 7), Indiana (2011 / No. 6, 2010 / No. 7, 2010 / No. 8) and LIU Post (2010 / No. 5).
 
ACTIVE STREAKS
Starts: Grace Burker (51), Bailee Christman (38), Hilary Hoffman (18)
Games Played: Bailee Christman (51), Grace Burker (51), Gianna Conti (44*)
Games With a Goal: Bailee Christman (1)
Games With a Shot: Gianna Conti (2), Bailee Christman (2), Leslie Colliver (1), Grace Williams (1)
Games With a SOG: Gianna Conti (2), Bailee Christman (1)
Games With an Assist: Hilary Hoffman (2)
* Played 18 games as a freshman in 2021 at Belmont Abbey
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Sept. 21 (11 a.m.) at #3 Shippensburg
Sept. 22 (12 p.m.) vs. Newberry - First Responders Day
Sept. 28 (1 p.m.) at #6 West Chester
Oct. 1 (4 p.m.) vs. Indiana (Pa.) - International Students Day / Make-A-Wish
Oct. 4 (3 p.m.) at #10 Millersville
 
CAREER RECORDS WATCH
Points (No. 15-19)
15. Deb Smith (1988-91): 36
16: Leslie Colliver: 33
t17: Bailee Christman: 32
t17. Samantha Badaczewski (2007-10): 32
t17. Katie Krouse (2007-10): 32
t20. Vicki Peterson (1994-97): 28
t20: Nicole Hess (2001-04): 28
t20: Barb Watson (1974-76): 28
 
Goals (No. 15-20)
t15. Barb Watson (1974-76): 14
t15. Gabrielle Malishchak (2009-12): 14
t15. Vicki Peterson (1994-97): 14
t18: Bailee Christman: 13
t18. Cathy Copeman (1975-76): 13
t18. Marlene Krieger (1977-80): 13
Active: Leslie Colliver: 12
Active: Gianna Conti: 10
 
Assists
1. Megan McKay (2013-16): 15
2. Allie Hartman (2007-10): 14
3. Samantha Griffith (2001-02): 13
t4. Kayla Del Vecchio (2019-24): 11
t4. Kailee Krupski (2014-17): 11
t4. Gabrielle Malishchak (2009-12): 11
t7. Leslie Colliver: 9
t7. Lindsay Brown (2011-13): 9
 
Saves
1. Lisa Belcastro (2007-10): 689
2. Tara Bailey (2003-06): 627
3. Grace Burker: 314
 
Goalie Wins
1. Judith Johns (1986-89): 33
2. Kerry McKnight (1996-99): 23
t3. Grace Burker: 19
t3. Sue Everden (1975-76): 19
t3. Amy Bricker (1991-95): 19
t3. Carlee DuMars (2012-15): 19
 
ADELPHI PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 0-3
NE10 Record: 0-0
Home Record: 0-1
Away Record: 0-2
Streak: L2
Head Coach: Jess Mulhern | Third season at AU (23-21)
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
• Picked to finish sixth in the NE10 this season, Adelphi opened its 2024 campaign with a pair of one-goal losses to Limestone (1-0, 2OT) and Newberry (4-3) followed by a 5-0 home setback vs. No. 6 West Chester.
 
• Adelphi is led by National Field Hockey Coaches' Association Division II Watchlist selection Amanda Lee, who has one assist and a team-high eight shots through three games after a 2023 season in which she ranked 12th in the nation in points with 33 on 13 goals and seven assists.
 
• Ali Nagy has accounted for two of AU's three goals with Sydney Rossacci tallying the other.
 
• Goalkeeper Tayla Szmak has played every second for Adelphi early on with 13 saves, a .565 save percentage and a 3.00 Goals Against Average.
 
PACE PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
NFHCA Top-10: Ninth
Overall Record: 0-3
NE10 Record: 0-1
Home Record: 0-2
Away Record: 0-1
Streak: L3
Head Coach: Kayte Biordi | Eighth season at PU (88-53)

SCOUTING THE SETTERS
• Pace started the season ranked ninth in the NFHCA's Division II Top-10 poll, but the stay in the national rankings will likely be short lived following a slow start to the season that has included losses to No. 8 Bloomsburg (7-2), Southern New Hampshire (3-2) and No. 2 East Stroudsburg (4-1).
 
• The Pace offense is spearheaded by the duo of Dietz and Anne Kopec with each athlete having scored two goals and Dietz assisting on another all the while racking up 16 shots on goal.
 
• Isabella Boertjes (1G), Katelyn Fairhurst (1 Ast.) and Jenna McCrudden (1 Ast.) round out Pace's offensive leaders through three games.
 
• The Setters have used two goalies in all three of their outings this year. Celeste Pagliaroli has shouldered the majority of playing time, allowing 11 goals (4.60 GAA) while making 24 saves (.686) in 143:24. Morgan Strecker has relieved Pagliaroli, stopping 13 shots (.813) and yielding just three goals (4.92 GAA) in 36:36.
 
• Pace hosts Frostburg State University 12 p.m. Saturday prior to its game against The Rock. 
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock wraps up its three-game road trip 11 a.m. Sept. 21 at No. 3 Shippensburg University.
 
 



To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official Athletic Communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).