The Slippery Rock women’s soccer team handed out two shutout conference wins last week to set them up for a great opportunity for post-season play
The Rock rolled past Mansfield University 4-0 on Tuesday at Egli Field advancing their record to 9-4-1 overall and 6-4-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play. Mansfield drops to 2-10-2 overall and 0-9-2 in league games.
Slippery Rock also managed a 2-0 win last Saturday against Millersville University in another PSAC matchup. Millersville dropped to 3-6-4 overall and 1-6-3 in league games.
Senior midfielder Shelby Ward came up big again for the Rock this week, scoring one goal and handing out two assists to lead Slippery Rock past Mansfield. She also tallied a goal in Saturday’s game.
Freshman forward Caitlin Conner added a goal and an assist while sophomore forward Nicole Krueger and freshman forward Crysta Ganter both picked up one goal apiece.
Junior goalkeeper Dana O’Neill got the win and snagged her sixth shutout of the season recording one save. Freshman Shannon Mahoney got her first collegiate appearance, coming into the game in the 59th minute.
The scoring started early when Ward racked up what would become the game-winner in the 12th minute when she received a cross from Conner, putting it away into the empty net.
Three minutes later, Krueger made it 2-0 when she beat Mansfield’s goalie on a breakaway.
Ganter nabbed her second goal of the year when she capitalized on a Mansfield error, putting the game out of reach for the Mounties.
The final goal of the match game just three minutes later, when in the 49th minute, Connor would grab her second goal of the year off an assist from Ward.
Last Saturday, SRU shut down Millersville at home at the annual Coins for Cancer and Senior Day game, with donations going toward the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Ward and sophomore Lucy Hannon each tallied a goal and Hannon and junior defender Izabel Scott picked up assists. O’Neill earned the shutout with five recorded saves.
Ward scored the game winner in the 17th minute from a pass off Hannon’s foot to beat the goalie on a one-on-one opportunity.
After the first half, SRU led 1-0, posting a 5-2 advantage in shots and a 1-0 edge in corners.
The Rock closed out the match with a mark in the 86th minute when Hannon scored her 8th of the season off a pass from Scott.
Millersville had two opportunities to come back while the game dwindled to an end, but it was O’Neill who came up big and stopped both chances.
Slippery Rock will play its final three games of the regular season on the road at Edinboro Saturday October 20, Gannon October 24 and Lock Haven October 27.
The Rock is currently in playoff position in the PSAC standings, sitting at seventh place with 19 points overall. They sit five points up on the ninth seed, with the top eight teams earning playoff berths. The top four seeds will host an opening round game, with the highest remaining seed hosting the semifinals and finals.
