SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener to Millersville University, 3-1, Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The loss moves The Rock's record to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in league competition while the Marauders improve to 4-3 on the year and 1-0 inside the PSAC.

SRU's efforts were highlighted by Maddie Orrson, who scored her first collegiate goal. Riley Cloude assisted on Orrson's goal for what was the first point of her tenure at SRU.

Orrson also paced Slippery Rock in total shots with three while Lucy Hutchinson had a multiple-shot afternoon as well with two attempts. Cloude and Roz Mikulak rounded out SRU's shot takers at one apiece with Cloude's being on target.

Goalkeeper Leah Riegling (2-1) made her fourth start of the season. She registered four saves while allowing three goals over 60 minutes.

Following a scoreless opening quarter, the Marauders' Alexis Kern scored off a corner that was setup by Megan Alvarez in the 19th minute. Orrson registered two of her three shots in the second quarter following Kern's score, but both attempts went wide as Millersville took a one-goal lead into halftime.

Millersville extended its advantage to two goals two minutes into the third quarter when Alvarez found Emma Ruley at 32:57.

While SRU did cut into its deficit with Orrson's goal, which came 10 minutes into the third quarter, a comeback was not to be as MU added an insurance tally when Alvarez and Ruley once again combined for a score early in the fourth quarter en route to the 3-1 victory.

For the game, Millersville held advantages over The Rock in total shots (12-7), shots on goal (7-2) and penalty corners (5-3).

Slippery Rock returns to competition on the road 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Indiana University (Pa.).




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