The Slippery Rock University women’s lacrosse team took an 11-7 victory over Shippensburg on senior day Saturday afternoon in its final home game of the season at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
The victory moves SRU to 9-7 overall and 5-6 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. The win also ensures SRU of its second consecutive winning season and its fourth winning season since the program was reinstated in 2007.
Despite the win, Slippery Rock was eliminated from PSAC Tournament contention due to Millersville’s win at Gannon.
Prior to the game, the senior class of Kaytlin Callaghan, Anna-Marie Warrington, Erin Wilcox, Jessica Johnson, Kristen McGrath, Taylor Balbierz and Jordan Wagner were recognized for their contributions to the program over the last four years.
In their final home game, the seniors greatly contributed to the win. Callaghan had one goal and three assists and Warrington scored one goal. Wilcox scored twice, assisted on another goal, scooped up seven groundballs and caused two turnovers, while Johnson scored her first goal of the season. Wagner stopped six shots in goal and Balbierz came off the bench to make three saves of her own.
Sophomore Tia Torchia scored a team-high three goals while also forcing three turnovers. Junior Chynna Chan had four groundballs, two draw controls and two caused turnovers. Junior Morgan McLaughlin pulled in four groundballs. Junior Jasey Sanders had a goal and four groundballs and junior Caitlynn Palladino scored a pair of goals as well.
As a team, Slippery Rock was 19-for-23 in clear attempts while holding the Raiders to just 15 successful clears in 26 attempts. SRU also forced 27 turnovers, the most in any game this season.
Palladino and Warrington both scored goals for The Rock in the opening eight minutes of play to give SRU a lead it would never relinquish.
Following a T.J. Johnson goal for Shippensburg at 21:46, SRU rattled off three consecutive goals; one from Wilcox and two from Torchia, giving The Rock a 5-1 advantage.
Allison Fugate ended the first half by scoring a goal with 49 seconds left to cut the Raiders deficit to 5-2 heading into the break.
However, Slippery Rock posted five of the second period’s first seven goals to extend its lead to 10-4 with 7:30 remaining in regulation.
Shippensburg would score three goals with less than three minutes to play to make it a 10-7 game before Torchia scored the hat trick goal with just seven seconds left in the game to seal the four-goal victory.
Slippery Rock will conclude its 2016 season at Seton Hill University Tuesday, April 26 at 4 p.m.
