The Slippery Rock women’s soccer team defeated the Millersville University Marauders Wednesday night in their last home game of the regular season by a score of 2–0 to capture their eighth victory in a row, bringing their record to 13-2-1 (12-2-1 PSAC).
The victory guaranteed the Green and White a home playoff game.
SRU has outscored their opponents 21–2 in their current win streak.
Coming in the game, the Rock was ranked 14th in the nation and, as such, the game was streamed online as the Tourbeau Sport’s NSCAATV National Game of the Week.
The Rock took an early advantage in the ninth minute of the game with a goal from freshman Dara Demich to give the Rock a 1–0 lead. Junior Ali Brosky was credited with the assist on Demich’s eighth goal of the season.
“I think we are really starting to put things together now going into the postseason,” head coach Noreen Herlihy said. “We have been improving every day in training. It’s about putting what we are working at out on the field.”
The Marauders entered the halftime break with no shots and no shots on goal. Slippery Rock held the advantage in shots with nine and shots on goal with four.
The three missed shots on goal by the Rock were off target by mere feet with two of them hitting the post.
Demich netted her second goal of the game and ninth of the season in the 55th minute following a well-executed crossover to avoid a Millersville defender and sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Webber. Sophomore Caitlin Binder provided the assist to Demich 35 yards out from goal.
“It’s great coming and getting a good start on my college career,” Demich said. “I hope we keep winning and get another PSAC championship like the team did last year.”
Friday, in their second double overtime game of the season, the Rock defeated the East Stroudsburg University Warriors by a score of 2–1 behind goals from freshman Andrea Felix and Demich.
The Warriors struck first in the 19th minute of the game with a goal off the foot of freshman Shea Neal scoring her team leading sixth goal of the season.
Felix scored to tie the game 1–1 in the 44th minute of the contest. This was Felix’s tenth goal of the season, placing her in a tie atop the PSAC goal leaders at the time.
No more goals would be scored in regulation or the first overtime. The next goal of the game would come in the second overtime at the 107th minute of the match off the laces of Demich from a cross by her teammate Felix.
“I think we are in good hands (of Demich and Felix). They are doing well and gaining a lot of experience,” Herlihy said. “We can’t fault them for the effort but they know it takes a good midfield behind them as well.”
Saturday, the women’s squad kicked-off against the West Chester University Golden Rams. Slippery Rock was looking for their seventh win in a row. The team earned a 1–0 victory on Senior Day following a ceremony honoring seniors Lauren Impey, Brosky, Dana O’Neill, and Izabel Scott.
The game remained scoreless into the 65th minute of regulation until sophomore Allison Harbart netted the only goal of the game for either squad, providing Slippery Rock with the victory.
The Rock will travel to Shippensburg University (11-5, 10-5 PSAC) for their final game of the regular season on Saturday; kickoff is at 3:30pm. SRU looks to finish their season strong prior to participating in the PSAC quarterfinals on Tuesday.
