The Slippery Rock University had another slow start against Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wednesday, and it cost them the game.
They lost 15-11, and didn’t give themselves much of a chance after striking first. After the Rock put up the first goal, IUP rallied off six unanswered goals in seven minutes to take control of the game. SRU fought back to make it 6-3 at the half, but coming out of the half, IUP went on another rally, scoring four goals to make it 10-3.
As they have all season, SRU had a big second half run in them, outscoring IUP 6-1 on the next seven goals, to make the score 11-9, but IUP shut the door by scoring the next two goals. The loss drops the Rock to 4-7 overall, and 2-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
“I give us a B- in that game,” Rock head coach Emily Hopkins said. “We didn’t play up to potential, we didn’t make adjustments, we didn’t come ready to play, but we did battle back and show heart.”
The Rock has continued to not show up in the beginning games, and it has cost them big this season. This game marked the third time in PSAC play that SRU has trailed by six goals or more in the second half. In all three of those games, the Rock has battled back with big surges and fell just short. They have now lost five games by four goals or less, and three of those have been by one goal.
“We need to get our confidence going early,” Hopkins said. “We need to start buying into the team persona and execute early, not just in the second half.”
The Rock had some different contributors than normal putting up numbers. Erin Wilcox led the way with five goals and three ball controls, Paige Costantino made her presence felt as always with two goals and two assists and Jasey Sanders scored two goals and handed out an assist. Danni Wilson added a goal off the bench, Chynna Chan scored a goal and rounding off the Rock point contributors was Kaytlin Callaghan adding an assist.
Jordan Wagner took the loss in goal, making eight saves and allowing all 15 goals.
Hopkins knows this team is in danger of missing the playoffs. She said that if the team continues to not make adjustments and start off slow in games that the season will be a disappointment, and playoffs will not be made. She knows this team has the potential to make the playoffs as they have showed, losing to PSAC powerhouses Seton Hill University and West Chester University by only two goals combined.
Hopkins said that if the team makes some adjustments that they can still make the playoffs.
“We have showed the ability to battle,” Hopkins said. “We always answer back with good rallies, we are right there in all these games.”
Hopkins knows this team has potential to make it to the playoffs, and there is still a lot of season left to prove it.
The Green and White’s next game is against East Stroudsburg University on Saturday at home at 1 p.m.
