Slippery Rock University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The ninth-ranked Slippery Rock University field hockey team lost to No. 6 Indiana University (Pa.), 3-0, Wednesday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Wednesday's loss moves The Rock's record to 10-5 overall and 2-5 inside the PSAC. IUP leaves SRU at 11-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock now finds itself in a tie for sixth place in the PSAC standings alongside Mansfield and West Chester with two games remaining in the regular season. Coincidently enough, The Rock's final two opponents are the Golden Rams and Mounties. The top six teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the PSAC Tournament.
 
Indiana concluded the game holding advantages over The Rock in total shots (16-10) and shots on goal (12-4), while SRU edged IUP in penalty corners earned (5-3).
 
Grace Williams and Coral Piramo recorded three shots apiece, with Williams placing two of her attempts on target and Piramo adding one. Lucy Hutchinson tallied two shots as well, while Riley Cloude and Hilary Hoffman added one apiece – Hoffman's attempt being on goal.
 
Rock goalkeeper Sam Black made nine saves over four quarters.
 
While IUP controlled possession for much of the first half, it appeared as if The Rock and Crimson Hawks would enter halftime in a scoreless tie only for Indiana to be awarded a penalty corner with 11 seconds left in the second quarter. IUP made the most of the late corner when Grace McGeehan converted the first goal of the game at 29:56.
 
Slippery Rock amped up the offensive pressure in the second half with seven shots over the final two quarters, but Indiana thwarted SRU's attempts while adding goals in the 39th and 59th minutes of their own to close out the 3-0 win.
 
McGeehan led IUP with a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Celeste Pagliaroli made four saves in the shutout.
 
Slippery Rock now heads east for an important PSAC road game 1 p.m. Saturday at No. 7 West Chester University.





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