The Slippery Rock University women’s soccer team moved up to fifth place in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire Division II rankings after a 3-0 victory over the University of Charleston last Saturday.
The Green and White improved to 3-0-0 (1-0-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play) on the season, outscoring their opponents 9-0.
Sophomore forward Lucy Hannon picked up points on every goal of the night, scoring once and getting two assists. Sophomore forward Alexandra Brosky and senior midfielder Shelby Ward each tallied a goal, and junior defender. Lauren Impey picked up an assist.
The Rock came out guns blazing, tallying a goal in the third minute from Brosky off the assist from Hannon.
Hannon added another goal in the 18th minute, coming off a free kick from Impey.
Slippery Rock held Charleston without one shot in the first half, getting out to a 2-0 lead.
The Rock used the second half to test the depth of their roster, allowing many players to pick up minutes of playing time.
SRU added the put-away goal in the 84th minute from Ward, her first of the season, burying it into the far post off a long ball from Hannon.
Dana O’Neill recorded her third shutout of the season, stopping all five shots she faced.
Megan Bauman received the loss in goal for Charleston and left the game after 45 minutes, having let in two goals on three shots.
Courtney Budd finished the game in net for Charleston, letting in one goal and recording one save.
Slippery Rock finished the game with a 9-6 total shot advantage, but both teams managed to put five on the target.
Senior captain Emer Flatley weighed in about Saturday’s performance.
“I thought our overall team performance was very strong especially in the first half,” Flatley said. “In the second half, a lot of players got good playing time and continued on the form from the first half which was fantastic!”
The Green and White have not allowed a goal this season outscoring opponents 9-0.
The team is suffering from a couple key injuries in Flatley and forward Alaina Jordan.
The Rock is showing no signs of weakness, as many players are coming off the bench and working well together.
“We have plenty of subs coming in and working hard. We worked well together and didn’t allow a goal,” O’Neill said following another shutout. “We’re taking it game by game and clean sheets are always in our mind.”
SRU jumped up five spots in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Division II rankings this week, rounding off the top five teams in the nation.
Slippery Rock will look to improve to 4-0 when they travel to Kutztown University tomorrow for an important PSAC game.
“We have a massive test out in Kutztown after our split last year,” Head Coach Noreen Herlihy said. “We definitely have to be on our game when we go out there and we are heading into the game with confidence.”
Last year Kutztown beat SRU in the PSAC semifinals at California. The following week, The Rock knocked them out of the NCAA playoffs with a second round win at Kutztown.
