SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Behind a pair of goals from Bailee Christman, the Slippery Rock University field hockey team overcame an early deficit to defeat Frostburg State University, 2-1, Thursday night at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Slippery Rock's season-opening win was the program's first victory to christen a year since defeating St. Thomas Aquinas College at opening of the 2018 campaign. The triumph also avenged a Frostburg State season-sweep of SRU a year ago.
 
Christman spearheaded The Rock's offensive attack with a team-high three shots, all of which were on target, en route to the senior's first multi-goal game. The two goals also moved Christman into a tie for 18th place in program history for career goals scored (13).
 
SRU has now won 14 of the 16 games in which Christman has accumulated at least one point in during her career.
 
On the heels of a standout freshman year in 2023, Hilary Hoffman opened her sophomore season by assisting on one of Christman's goals for her first point of the year.
 
Gianna Conti provided SRU with two shots on goal as well while the duo of Grace Williams and Leslie Colliver added one attempt apiece to round out The Rock's offensive leaders.
 
Defensively, veteran goalie Grace Burker stopped a pair of shots and led a unit which fended off four opponent corners in what was the senior's 19th career victory. Burker is now tied with Sue Everden (1975-76), Amy Bricker (1991-95) and Carlee DuMars (2012-15) for the third most wins by a goalkeeper in program history.
 
SRU found itself trailing by a goal late in the first half following a 10th-minute score by Zoe Reading and an ensuring stalemate.
 
However, The Rock came up with the equalizer with five minutes left to play in the second quarter when Hoffman played a perfect entry pass from 18 yards out right to the stick of Christman who in turn rocketed a shot that cruised by the out-stretched leg of FSU goalie Zoe Barnes and into the back left of the cage.
 
The two evenly-matched teams proceeded to trade possession for the remainder of the opening half and the entirety of the third quarter to take a 1-1 contest into the final 15 minutes of competition.
 
Slippery Rock earned a penalty corner five minutes into the fourth quarter which ultimately led to a penalty stroke being awarded which was taken by Christman, who once again beat Barnes with an attempt to the upper left for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
 
The final 10 minutes of regulation saw The Rock's defense take over by not allowing a single FSU attempt and promptly clearing the lone corner drawn by the Bobcats through the remainder of regulation to polish off the one-goal victory.
 
Slippery Rock closed the night holding advantages over Frostburg State in total shots (7-4), shots on goal (5-3) and penalty corners (5-4).
 
Reading, Ava Waddell and Emilie Bonhivert all registered shots for Frostburg State in its season-opening loss while Barnes made two saves.  
 
The Rock returns to competition 12 p.m. Sept. 15 on the road at Adelphi University.




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