Slippery Rock University women’s field hockey was held scoreless against IUP, falling 3-0 and dropping to 10-5 on the season.
Goalie Sam Black opened the game with three saves against the Crimson Hawks, followed by a largely back-and-forth first quarter in which neither team recorded a shot on goal.
The second quarter opened with increased pressure from IUP, which recorded four shots within the first five minutes of play.
The Rock responded with a pair of shots later in the quarter from Reily Cloude and Lucy Hutchinson. Despite the opportunities, SRU was unable to get on the scoreboard.
The game appeared headed into halftime with a 0-0 tie until IUP broke through with just four seconds remaining. Midfielder Grace McGeehan found the back of the net for her first goal of the season, assisted by Nina Stanich, who recorded her fifth assist of the year.
Coming out of halftime down 1-0, SRU struggled to generate offense, recording just three shots in the third quarter. Coral Piramo and Grace Williams each had an opportunity denied by IUP goalie Celeste Pagliaroli during the final four minutes of the period.
IUP continued to build momentum in the fourth quarter, extending its lead with a goal from senior Lauren Horning, her second of the season. McGeehan assisted on the goal, adding to her earlier scoring contribution.
The Crimson Hawks maintained control for the remainder of the game, adding another goal from Kylee Hager late in the fourth quarter to complete the 3-0 shutout. IUP limited The Rock to just four shots on goal throughout the contest.
Despite the loss, Black remained solid between the pipes, recording 13 saves on 16 shots on goal. Juniors Grace Williams and Coral Piramo led SRU with three shots each, while senior Lucy Hutchinson added two shots of her own.
With the regular season nearing its end, Slippery Rock is on the outside looking in for a spot in the PSAC playoffs. The Rock’s next two games are against fellow 2-5 teams West Chester and Mansfield University, giving SRU an opportunity to improve its standing before the end of the season.
The Rock will look to get back in the win column on the road against No. 7 West Chester University on Saturday, Oct. 31, before closing out its season at home against Mansfield University on Saturday, Nov. 7.
