SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team won its home opener Saturday with a 16-7 victory over D'Youville University in a non-conference game from a frigid Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The Rock picked up a win in their home opener for the 13th consecutive season to improve to 2-0 on the year and 4-0 all-time against the Saints. D'Youville dropped its first game of the season to open the year at 0-1.
 
Both teams had to battle frigid temperatures, strong wind and blowing snow in a game where the wind chill dipped into the single digits.
 
Slippery Rock scored the first four goals of the game and built a 7-3 lead at halftime before opening the second half with a 7-1 run to put the game out of reach. The Rock finished with advantages of 40-17 in shots and 20-7 in draw controls. D'Youville posted a 15-13 edge in ground balls and a 9-8 edge in caused turnovers.
 
Abby Fink paced The Rock attack with seven points on five goals and two assists. Leora Owings added four goals, Erin Melcher scored one goal and handed out three assists and Grace Rotter tallied two goals and two assists as SRU had four players with at least four points.
 
Ava Dossier chipped in two goals while Reagan Richeson and Cadyn Eismann each scored one goal and Ella Koslowski handed out one assist to cap the point scorers.
 
Amelia Nitsche led the defense with two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Lily Ventresca earned the win in goal with three saves and three goals allowed in the opening half. Ava Drath played the second half in goal and allowed four goals while making four saves.
 
D'Youville was led by Sydney Gordon with a hat trick and Madison Buck with one goal and three assists. Goalie Brinn Stworzydlak kept her team in the game most of the day and finished with 15 saves.
 
Slippery Rock will now shift its focus to a tough four-game road swing that begins Wednesday at No. 8 East Stroudsburg.
 



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