ASHLAND, Ohio – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team opened its 2025 campaign with a 3-0 defeat Saturday at No. 16 Ashland University.
Saturdays defeat is the first of the season for The Rock while Ashland improves to 1-1-0 overall on the season.
Slippery Rock took nine shots against Ashland with eight different players:
Bailey McGee,
Sophia Palermo,
Abby Paterline,
Lindsey Price,
Marissa Salisbury,
Maggie Soehnlen,
Lillian Snyder and
Libby Zacharyasz. Paterline led The Rock with two shots.
Leah Allman made seven saves against the Eagles for the second year in a row, facing 14 shots.
The Eagles started fast and took three shots in the first nine minutes, with one being on goal, but their pace was slowed down by The Rock defense. SRU responded with two shots of their own via Zacharyasz and Salisbury.
Slippery Rock's defensive play led by Zacharyasz,
Sydney Smith,
Irene Doleno and
Libby Earley, along with Allman, held strong through the first 45 minutes despite Ashland peppering Allman with seven shots, forcing three saves from the junior goalkeeper.
Ashland started the second half faster than the first and finally broke through the SRU defense when Dani Hicks took a shot, which Allman saved, but the rebound bounced to Hicks, who scored her first goal of the season in the 53
rd minute of the game.
The Eagles would continue to control the action and add two more goals. Emily Pate buried a pass from Clara Richardson in the 63
rd minute and Cece Craig put one past Allman off an assist from Tessa Blain in the 65
th minute.
Slippery Rock would put two shots on goal in the second half from Price and Soehnlun.
Ashland finished with a 14-9 advantage in shots and 10-3 in shots on goal, while Slippery Rock had a 7-3 edge in saves.
Slippery Rock will return to the pitch in its second and final non-conference matchup at Frostburg State University 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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).
