The last time the Slippery Rock University women’s soccer team finished in a draw was on September 10, 2011. Tuesday, exactly two years later, the ladies in green and white concluded a match against the Clarion University Golden Eagles with a 1-1 draw following two overtimes at Clarion’s Memorial Stadium.
Slippery Rock now holds a 17-0-2 all-time record against the Golden Eagles.
Clarion’s Stephanie Sikora took the only shot on goal for Clarion the entire game to put the Eagles up 1-0 in the 29th minute of the first half. A little over a minute later, SRU freshman Andrea Felix netted her second goal in two games with no assist.
The score would remain the same for the next 80 minutes with Slippery Rock putting 12 more shots on goal but failing to place any in the back of the net prior to the final whistle.
Senior goaltender Dana O’Neill faced five shots and finished the game with one goal allowed and no saves, which frustrated head coach Noreen Herlihy.
“We gave away a sloppy goal,” Herlihy said in connection to the Golden Eagles solitary point on Tuesday. “We were definitely dominant in possession and shots on goal. We just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal.”
Earlier in the day, the women’s squad was voted eighth in the Division II national rankings, as well as number one in the Atlantic Regional rankings.
“The game against Cal-U was a big deal and we got a positive result,” Herlihy said in regards to the jump in national rankings from 17th to 8th. “While its wonderful for the players and the team, we know rankings can be very fickle. We don’t get too carried away with it.”
Lauren Impey, a senior defender from Northampton, England, has become a leader on the team from her class standing as well as her skill.
“I try to be the player that (the team) can all look to and see that I am ready for battle,” Impey said. “Being a senior player comes with a huge responsibility both on and off the field.”
In addition to Impey’s defensive skills, she has high praise for the freshman class composing most of the team this season.
“Their performance has been superb so far,” Impey said. “They have certainly pushed the sophomores, juniors, and seniors to work harder. I am devastated that this is my last season, because the potential the team has is frightening.”
With all the positive rankings and praise from teammates, Herlihy said the team must not get ahead of themselves.
“When you’re defending champs, everyone is coming at you with their A-game,” Herlihy said. “We just need to be aware of what will be coming against us and adjust. We just didn’t put away the chances we had this week.”
Slippery Rock will face off against the Indiana University of Pa. Crimson Hawks at 2 p.m. on the James Egli Field for a PSAC match-up.
