The Slippery Rock University women’s soccer team (10-3-1) has won seven of their last eight games, and with their win over Edinboro University (8-6-1) on Wednesday. SRU won the game 1-0.
“The expectations are there to win,” SRU head coach Noreen Herlihy said. “We are stepping up, getting ready, and applying ourselves for these games.”
With the last minute victory, the Rock is now ranked sixth in the Atlantic Region and the top eight in the region qualifier for the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.
Junior midfielder Caitlin Binder’s goal in the 88th minute gave the Green and White another step towards the NCAA tournament. The goal was her fourth of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment with only a 1:30 left in the game. SRU took control in second half by not allowing a shot in the final 20 minutes of play. The defensive effort set up Binder to get the game winner. Sophomore goalkeeper Annabelle Hegeman also picked up her Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference leading seventh shutout of the season while recording five saves.
“It was a very exciting game against a good, senior-based team,” Herlihy said. “It was a good test as we persevered and were diligent.”
Herlihy said that the team was not content with a tie, but pushed until the last minute for that big win.
SRU held the advantage in shots (15-13) and corner kicks (4-3). Both teams had the same number of shots on goal with five apiece.
Edinboro wasn’t the only team SRU played last week, having lost to Bloomsburg University on Friday 3-1. The Rock controlled possession for most of the game, leading Bloomsburg in total shots (13-8), shots on goal (9-4), and corner kicks (5-2). After SRU took a 1-0 lead into the half, Bloomsburg quickly came back, putting up three unanswered points on the way to a win at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
Senior forward Ali Brosky gave SRU their only goal, her fifth goal of the year, while Binder registered a team high three shots. Junior midfielder Brooke Edwards had two shots, and sophomore forward Dara Demich, senior midfielder Leslie Henny, and freshman midfielder Tess Keeley registered shots as well to try to mount a comeback.
The Green and White answered that loss with a 6-0 win over Lock Haven University (5-8-1) last Saturday . The Rock registered all of their goals in the first half on their way to the win. Senior forward Nicole Krueger and Keeley both scored twice, while Brosky and Demich polished off the goal scoring with one apiece. Before this game, SRU honored their senior class of Brosky, Edwards, Krueger, and Henny, who were playing in their last home game. These women have given the Rock a solid four years, and hope to carry them deeply into the NCAA tournament.
