SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – A second-half surge led by Marissa Salisbury and Bailey McGee pushed the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team to a 2-2 draw Saturday against No. 9 Gannon University at James Egli Field.
 
With the draw, Slippery Rock stays atop the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division with an 11-3-1 record overall and a 11-1-1 mark in the PSAC West, while Gannon's record goes to 14-1-2 overall and 10-1-2 in the PSAC West. While not in the top 25, Slippery Rock did receive votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll this week for the first time this season. The last time Slippery Rock was ranked was in 2021. The full list can be seen HERE.

With the result, Slippery Rock has clinched a home game for the quarterfinal round of the PSAC Tournament.
 
The race for the PSAC West is headed to the final match day as Slippery Rock (11-1-1/ 34 points) and Gannon (10-1-2/ 32 points) are battling for the division title. Both teams still have a chance to claim the PSAC West with one game remaining. Slippery Rock hosts Seton Hill University and Gannon hosts Clarion, who just clinched the fifth and final spot on the PSAC Tournament from the Western Division with its 1-1 draw with Edinboro today.

A victory over Seton Hill would give Slippery Rock its first PSAC West title since 2019.
 
On Wednesday, Slippery Rock was announced as one of 10 teams in the first NCAA regional ranking. The NCAA's regional rankings are the only official ranking used by the Division II Women's Soccer Committee's to determine which teams from each of the eight regions will qualify for the 56-team NCAA Division II playoffs. The regional rankings will be released every Wednesday through the final three weeks of the season until final selections are revealed Nov. 17. This week's rankings were alphabetical, but moving forward they will be put in rank order.
 
Slippery Rock has gone unbeaten in eight consecutive games, becoming the program's longest winning streak over the last five years. The eight-game run matches the eighth longest unbeaten streak in program history.
 
Salisbury and McGee scored one goal each. The marker was Salisbury's team-leading eighth goal of the season and McGee's goal was her second of 2025.
 
Salisbury and Sophia Palermo grabbed one assist apiece on the day. Salisbury's assist was her fourth of the campaign and Palermo's helper was her team-leading seventh of the season.
 
McGee led The Rock with three shots, while Salisbury (2) was the only other Rock player with multiple shots. Libby Zacharyasz and Libby Earley rounded out the SRU shot takers with one each.
 
Leah Allman made eight saves in the draw.
 
The first half was a physical frame that ended 0-0, but both teams had dangerous scoring chances.
 
Salisbury put home a goal inside the first two minutes of the game, but was whistled for offsides. Allman made seven saves in the first half, most importantly on a one-on-one with Gannon standout Brooklyn Respecki.
 
Gannon entered halftime with a 10-3 advantage in shots and a 7-0 edge in shots on goal.
 
The Golden Knights opened the scoring in the 50^th minute off a free-kick strike from Olivia Dixon, giving Gannon a 1-0 lead.
 
Gannon doubled its lead in the 55^th minute with a goal from Ella Fadale, who took a pass from Jessie Watkins from the left side and buried the shot, giving Gannon a 2-0 lead.
 
Slippery Rock cut into Gannon's lead with a goal from Salisbury in the 70^th minute. Palermo found the receiving end of an Allman free-kick and sent a pass to Salisbury down the right side. Salisbury used her speed to get by the defender and put home the shot, cutting Gannon's lead to 2-1.  
 
The Rock found an equalizer in the 77^th minute as McGee tapped home a rebound from a saved Salisbury attempt. The senior again used her speed to beat a defender down the right side and forced a save from Gannon goalkeeper Morgan Sinan, but Sinan couldn't control the rebound and McGee was alone on the doorstep to put it home, tying the game 2-2.
 
Slippery Rock almost found a game-winner with 30 seconds to play as Salisbury tried to lob the ball above Sinan, who came out to play the ball outside of the 18-yard box, but just missed wide left of the cage.
 
The Golden Knights finished the match with a 17-7 advantage in shots and a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
 
Slippery Rock will look to clinch the PSAC West title in its regular season finale 3 p.m. Nov. 5 against Seton Hill at James Egli Field. The Rock will also be looking to complete the season-sweep over the Griffins as SRU took down SHU, 3-0, on the road earlier in the season.



 
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