Over Labor Day weekend, the Slippery Rock University field hockey team opened its season in Springfield, Massachusetts. Game one took place on Saturday, while game two took place on Sunday.
Saturday’s game resulted in a pleasant 2-0 victory over Saint Thomas Aquinas College. Sophomore Allison Grant and freshman Jordan Barnes each scored a goal in the victory. Senior Megan McKay dished out her fist assist on the year on the Barnes goal.
Offensively, SRU was stellar and held advantages over Saint Thomas in total shots (29-1) and shots on goal (10-0). The Rock also held the advantage in penalty corners (13-1).
Besides goals from Grant and Barnes, SRU received contributions from senior Renee Rosenblum, who had seven total shots and two shots on goal, as well as from junior Alyssa Castle who had two shots on goal.
Junior goalkeeper Nicole Bream made her fist start of her Rock career and earned a shutout in the process.
The Rock has now earned shutout victories in two of the last three season openers.
After the victory on Saturday, SRU turned its attention to American International College on Sunday.
Slippery Rock came into Sunday’s game having never lost to American International in Springfield, Massachusetts
Both teams battled for most of the first period until AIC scored first on a goal from Emma Heroth.
Just a minute and fifteen seconds into the second period, The Rock tied it up with a goal from Mckay.
With just under two minutes remaining in regulation, AIC was able to get a goal from Katie Lombardozzi and narrowly edged Slippery Rock by a score of 2-1.
Goalkeeper Nicole Bream stopped a career-high five shots for The Rock.
As for Mckay, her 23rd career goal puts her just two goals away from tying Marlene Hall (1985-88) for the most goals in Rock history.
The loss for Slippery Rock puts their record to 1-1. The Rock will look to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday, Sept. 6th when they play Seton Hill at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium for their first home game of the season.
