On Wednesday, the 21st ranked SRU women’s soccer team snapped Kutztown’s Seven-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory. Both teams came into the match ranked in the Atlantic Region Top-Five, the Rock being third and Kutztown being fourth.
The Rock (9-2-1) didn’t wait long to take the lead as freshman Andrea Felix buried a pass from senior Lauren Impey in the back of the visitors net in the 5th minute for a 1–0 lead. Felix leads the Rock with eight goals on the season.
Megan Fraller netted the equalizer for the Golden Bears (8-4-0) in the 28th minute off a misplayed ball in the Rock’s goal box.
In the 63rd minute, junior Nicole Krueger powered a shot from 30-yards out, just over Kutztown’s goalkeeper. Felix supplied the assist on Krueger’s fourth goal of the season.
“What makes Felix such a great player is that her work ethic is phenomenal. She is always looking to get her teammates involved in the play,” head coach Noreen Herlihy said of Andrea. “(Wednesday) she got one good look and she finished it brilliantly. She has a fantastic future ahead of her. Krueger’s goal was absolute class as well.”
Senior Dana O’Neill recorded two saves and gave up one goal in her seventh win of the season in goal, bringing her season record to 7-2-1.
“Dana, as a fifth year senior, has all the experience in the world,” said Herlihy. “We have the ultimate confidence in both of our goalies, Dana and freshaman Annabelle Hegeman.”
Impey had several vital goal-saving clearances throughout the game, acting as almost a second goalkeeper.
The score would remain the same for the rest of regulation time, giving Slippery Rock their ninth win of the season.
The Rock has outscored opponents 12-1 in the past four games and won eight of their last nine contests. Since the beginning of the regular season, SRU has outscored their opponents 25-7.
Last Saturday afternoon, the Rock held Lock Haven University scoreless, 2-0, on their own field to record their third straight shutout victory. The Rock has six total shutouts on the year.
Junior Nicole Krueger scored the initial point for Slippery Rock in the 37th minute of regulation on a penalty kick.
Lock Haven would go on to outshoot SRU 6-3 in the first half, but fail to put any balls across the goal line.
The Rock would outshoot the Bald Eagles 5-1 in the second half, limiting Lock Haven’s opportunities to tie the match.
In the 59th minute, junior Leslie Henny netted her first goal of the season and second goal of the game for the Rock, bringing the score to 2-0 with nearly 30 minutes remaining. There would be no more goals scored for the remainder of the game.
Goalkeeper Hegeman recorded her second straight shutout victory and has yet to allow a goal in her first season as a college athlete.
“We’re trying to gather experience along the way. We have a lot of youth so that comes with some ups and downs,” Herlihy said. “We just have to keep looking to improve everyday. Were proud of the effort and that’s all we can ask for.”
This weekend, the team will be celebrating their 20th year of collegiate competition. Following the homecoming game against the Mansfield Mountaineers, there will be a celebration held in the Robert Smith Student Center. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at James Egli Field.
