EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team saw its season-opening road trip come to a close after suffering a 2-0 defeat to East Stroudsburg University.
 
The Rock will enter Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play with an overall record of 0-1-1, while the Warriors, who kicked off their season Sunday, begin their 2024 campaign at 1-0.
 
Libby Zacharyasz helped guide SRU's efforts with two shots, while Maddie DeLucio, Jaime Dermotta, Skylar Munnikhuysen and Olivia Yoder each generated one shot. Both Dermotta and Munnikhuysen saw their shot attempts land on target.
 
Leah Allman made six saves for Slippery Rock, challenged by an ESU offense that outshot SRU, 21-6.
 
The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the 18^th minute on an improbable goal by Nia Chinapoo, who lofted a shot from the right sideline that dropped in at the far post.
 
The Rock nearly found an equalizer in a corner kick that came with just 11 second remaining in the half. After Munnikhuysen's corner was popped back out to her at the left wing, she looked to mirror ESU's tough-angle goal with four seconds remaining. East Stroudsburg's Emmy Clarkson was able to get a palm on the ball, keeping the 1-0 edge.
 
Slippery Rock's next best attempt to tie the match came within the first minute of the second half. When SRU was awarded a free kick just 11 seconds into play, East Stroudsburg feverishly tried to clear the ball from the box despite a frenzy of headers and volleys that ended with a shot from Yoder that zipped high of the net.
 
SRU played most of the remaining game on defense, fending off everything except for a 63^rd minute goal by Sophia Lowery that found the netting after taking an unlucky deflection off a defender.
 
East Stroudsburg was unable to score on any of its remaining opportunities, the last of which came when Allman stopped a 90^th-minute look from McKenna Chisholm.
 
ESU's 21-6 lead in shots was spearheaded by Rebecca Kotula with a game-high seven. East Stroudsburg earned an 8-2 stronghold in shots on goal and a 5-3 tilt in corners.
 
Slippery Rock is set to open PSAC West competition 1 p.m. Wednesday when it travels to Richland High School to face off with Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock swept UPJ last year, outscoring the Mountain Cats, 9-1.





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