SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team carries its four-game winning streak into a battle of the last two teams undefeated in the PSAC West at No. 6 Gannon University 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Slippery Rock enters the matchup with a 4-2-0 record overall and a 4-0-0 mark in the PSAC West. Gannon comes into the game with an overall record of 7-0-0 and a 4-0-0 PSAC West record.
WATCH LIVE
Fans can watch Wednesday's game live for free via the links below provided by Gannon Media Relations.
GAME 7 of 16
Opponent: Gannon
Date: Wednesday – 6 p.m.
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Venue: McConnell Family Stadium
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-Game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 14-16-5
Current Streak: L1
Last Played: Oct. 30, 2024 (Gannon won 2-0)
SERIES HISTORY
Over the past 30 years, Slippery Rock and Gannon have played 35 times. SRU and Gannon first played in 1996, and the two teams have played each other in every season since 2008. Slippery Rock holds a 14-16-5 overall record and a 5-11-2 record on the road against Gannon. Last year, The Rock went 0-1-1 against the Golden Knights. Slippery Rock and Gannon tied in their first meeting at James Egli Field, 1-1, and Gannon took home a 2-0 victory at McConnell Family Stadium. A win on Wednesday would give SRU its first victory over Gannon since 2019.
| TEAM COMPARISON |
| The Rock |
2025 Stats |
Golden Knights |
| 4-2-0 |
Overall Record |
7-0-0 |
| 4-0-0 |
Conference Record |
4-0-0 |
| 2.17 |
Goals per Game |
3.57 |
| 1.17 |
Opp. Goals per Game |
0.43 |
| +6 |
Season Goal Differential |
+22 |
| 13.7 |
Shots per Game |
26.1 |
| 8.7 |
Opp. Shots per Game |
3.6 |
| 6.8 |
SOG per Game |
13.3 |
| 4.8 |
Opp. SOG per Game |
2.1 |
| 1.7 |
Assists per Game |
2.3 |
| 5.0 |
Corners per Game |
9.1 |
| 7.8 |
Fouls per Game |
9.3 |
| 3.7 |
Saves per Game |
1.7 |
TOP ACTIVE SRU PLAYERS AGAINST GANNON
Libby Zacharyasz – 7 GP: 1 G, 7 SH, 1 SOG, 630 MIN
Leah Allman – 5 GP: 27 SV, 16 GA, 450 MIN
Bailey McGee – 4 GP: 1 SH, 1 SOG, 309 MIN
Sophia Palermo – 3 GP: 2 SH, 1 SOG, 191 MIN
Rock By The Numbers
Overall Record: 4-2-0
PSAC West Record: 4-0-0
Home Record: 2-0-0
Away Record: 2-2-0
PSAC West Rank: T-1 of 8
Streak: W4
Head Coach: Noreen Herlihy | 21
st season at SRU (254-115-30, .674) | 31
st season overall (309-208-62, .587)
Alma Mater: Mercyhurst '92
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock stayed perfect in PSAC West competition, when it downed Indiana University (Pa.), 2-0, Sept. 27.
Abby Paterline and
Lilia Battalini scored one goal apiece, while
Sophia Palermo picked up two assists against IUP.
The Crimson Hawks ended the match with a 10-8 edge in shots, and a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Slippery Rock goalkeeper
Leah Allman picked up her 16
th career shutout in SRU's victory.
STARTING FAST IN THE PSAC WEST
Slippery Rock has started 4-0-0 in the PSAC West for the first time since 2021. In the five seasons prior to 2021, Slippery Rock had started 4-0-0 in the PSAC West one time. The last time SRU started 5-0-0 in conference play was 2019, as part of a 6-0-0 start to league play.
MULTI-GOAL GAMES
The Slippery Rock defense has been stellar this season. The Rock has only given up multiple goals in two games this year, as well as only two goals in the last four games. The offense has matched the play off the defense in 2025. Slippery Rock has scored multiple goals in its last four contests, which it only accomplished seven times total in 2024.
LEADING THE ROCK
Marissa Salisbury leads The Rock with four goals and nine points. Seven other Rock players have at least a point so far this season.
Paterline has secured three goals in 2025, trailing Salisbury by one.
Palermo paces Slippery Rock with three assists. McGee and Paterline sit at two assists apiece, trailing Palermo by one. Salisbury,
Eden Williams, and
Irene Doleno all have one assist each.
Salisbury leads the charge in shots with 16. Paterline follows the senior with 13 shots. Palermo trails the two forwards with eight shots.
Allman leads the Rock in minutes with 540. Doleno and
Lillian Snyder, both crucial to SRU's backline, follow Allman in minutes with 514 and 512 respectively.
ALLMAN IN GOAL
Allman has been The Rock's starter for all six games so far this season. The junior from Olmsted Township, Ohio has a 4-2-0 record with a .759 save percentage, while allowing 1.17 goals per game. Allman has recorded two shutouts so far this season.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Senior midfielder
Libby Zacharyasz has been a starter since she arrived at Slippery Rock. In her career, Zacharyasz has started 61 out of teh 62 games she has played, including 56 in a row. With a start against Gannon, Zacharyasz will move into a tie for 10th place in Slippery Rock history in consecutive games started with
Faith Diffenbacher (2021-24) and Maddy Tletski (2014-17).
PSAC LEADERS
During her quick start to 2025, Salisbury ranks inside the top 10 in multiple PSAC categories. The senior from Arona, Pennsylvania, ranks seventh in the PSAC in goals per game with 0.67 and seventh in total goals with four.
Palermo, a junior from Wexford, Pennsylvania, ranks fourth in the PSAC with two game-winning goals. The two game-winners came in back-to-back games for Palermo against Edinboro and California.
DIVISION II LEADERS
Along with being among the most-clutch players in the PSAC, Palermo also ranks among the top players in Division II in game-winning goals. Palermo is 23
rd in the nation in that category.
ASSISTING IN BUNCHES
Palermo secured two assists against IUP. The junior is the first Rock player since herself and
Sydney Patrick (2020-24) both achieved this in a 6-0 win over Clarion Sept. 28, 2024.
A SEASON OF FIRST'S
Battalini scored her first career goal last time out against the Crimson Hawks. The freshman is one of five Rock players to score their first career goal this season. Salisbury, Paterline,
Miley Kariotis and
Allie Burns are the other SRU players to accomplish that feat this season.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
The most recent regional rankings of 2025 have been released by the United Soccer Coaches and The Rock moved up one spot to eighth place in the Atlantic Region. Slippery Rock is one of eight PSAC schools in the rankings. Bloomsburg University, Shepherd University, Kutztown University, West Chester University and East Stroudsburg University represent the PSAC East, while Gannon and IUP join Slippery Rock in representing the PSAC West. The full list of the region rankings can be found
HERE. Gannon sits on top in the regional rankings for the Atlantic region.
HERLIHY ON THE DIVISION II WINS LIST
Slippery Rock head coach
Noreen Herlihy currently sits at 309 wins, which has her ranked 23
rd nationally in Division II in career wins and 13
th among active coaches.
RECORD WATCH
Leah Allman – Eighth in saves with 146 – eight saves away from seventh
Leah Allman – Sixth in wins with 25 – two away from fifth
Leah Allman – Fifth in shutouts with 16 – four and a half away from fourth
Leah Allman – Fifth in games started as a goalie with 44 – two away from fourth
Libby Zacharyasz – T-17 on game winning goals with four – one away from T-15
Sophia Palermo – T-17 on game winning goals with four – one away from T-15
Libby Zacharyasz – 11
th on consecutive games started - one away from T-9
GOLDEN KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 7-0-0
PSAC West Record: 4-0-0
Home Record: 2-0-0
Away Record: 5-0-0
PSAC West Rank: T-1 of 8
Streak: W7
Head Coach: Colin Petersen | 24
th season at Gannon (228-164-44, .573)
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
GANNON SCOUTING REPORT
No. 7 Gannon has continued its winning ways from last season to start 2025. The Golden Knights are 7-0-0 overall and have a 4-0-0 record in the PSAC West. Gannon has a +22 goal differential on the year, ranking them third in the PSAC.
Brooklyn Respecki has led the Golden Knights up front. Respecki has totaled seven goal and four assists for 18 points, all team highs. Also, Respecki is the reigning PSAC West Athlete of teh Week. Six other Golden Knights have multiple goals this season. Ella Fadale sits with the second most goals for Gannon with four.
Along with Respecki, Grace Emanuel is tied for Gannon's assist lead with four. Eight Gannon players have registered at least one assist, with six of those players registering multiple assists.
Gannon goalkeeper Morgan Sinan has been the feature goalkeeper for the Golden Knights in six games. Sinan has a 6-0-0 record with 10 saves, giving her an .833 save percentage, while allowing two goals for a 0.36 GAA.
LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will return to James Egli Field for Alumni Day 1 p.m. Saturday when it plays Pitt-Johnstown.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official Athletic Communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
