Slippery Rock University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University field hockey team maintained its unbeaten record with a 3-1 victory over No. 9 Lander University Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Saturday's win keeps Slippery Rock's record unblemished at 3-0 in 2026, while the nationally ranked Bobcats drop to 1-2. The triumph also gave The Rock their first start to a season with three straight wins since 2018 in addition to being the program's first victory over a nationally ranked team since a 3-2 victory over a fifth-ranked Kutztown team in 2017.
 
SRU earned its win in decisive fashion as The Rock scored three consecutive goals to open the game before allowing Lander's lone goal via a penalty stroke early in the fourth quarter.
 
Lucy Hutchinson continued what is shaping up to be a brilliant senior season by scoring two goals Saturday. Over three games, Hutchinson has produced five goals which already matches her team-high total from a season ago.
 
Likewise, Coral Piramo built on what's also been a great start to the year thanks to her third goal of the season. Roz Mikulak rounded out SRU's point scorers versus Lander with an assist, her first of 2026.
 
Hutchinson logged five of The Rock's nine shots on goal. Grace Williams added two attempts on target as well, with the duo of Piramo and Hilary Hoffman accounting for one each also.
 
Goalkeeper Sam Black anchored a stout Rock defense that yielded just five shots on goal to Lander. Black made four saves to help secure the victory.
 
Hutchinson set SRU on the right direction early on with a goal in just the seventh minute on Mikulak's assist.
 
The Rock extended their lead in the second quarter via Piramo's strike to send SRU into the halftime break ahead 2-0. Hutchinson then stretched Slippery Rock's lead to a healthy 3-0 courtesy of her second goal of the day at 41:56 in the third quarter.
 
While Lander did trim one goal off its deficit when Mirte Van Roosebeke converted her penalty stroke attempt 44 seconds into the fourth quarter, Slippery Rock ended any threat of a comeback by limiting the Bobcats to only four shots, two of which went wide and two more that were stopped by Black, over the final quarter en route to the two-goal victory.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock held advantages over Lander in total shots (13-7) and shots on goal (9-5). Lander held a slim 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Slippery Rock closes out its four-game homestand 4 p.m. Sept. 18 against Converse University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. A victory would give The Rock their first 4-0 start to a season since 1978.





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