Slippery Rock University’s women’s soccer team squeaked out a win Friday night against Millersville University.
After going down 1-0 early, the team preserved and were able to tie then go ahead late with goals from sophomore forward Brooke Testa and senior defender Sam Thornton, respectively. Testa now leads the team with two goals on the season while Thornton’s goal was her first of the season.
Freshman midfielder Miranda Gallucci set up both goals earning herself the first two assists of her short college career.
Slippery Rock set a team-high eight shots on goal. Testa and senior forward teammate Dara Demich each had two apiece. The others came from junior midfielder Maddy Smith, freshman forward Keri Mathias, junior defender Haley Burkholder, and Thornton.
Sophomore goalkeeper Charlotte Elrod received the win after allowing one goal and recording four saves.
Slippery Rock came out aggressive, recording three corner kicks in the first eight minutes of the contest, but give credit to Millersville as they were able to defend their goal well early on while also going up 1-0.
Millersville nearly took a two-goal lead within a three-minute period when Alexandra Powell registered a shot from the top of the box right into an open goal, but the ball sailed on her.
With that being said, Slippery Rock nearly tied the game at one going into the half on its fourth corner kick of the game, but Millersville goalie Samantha Wolfe was able to record the save and the score going into the half remained 1-0 in favor of Millersville.
In the second half, Slippery Rock proved to be too much for Millersville as eight minutes into the half Testa recorded the game-tying goal.
With 36 minutes left, Slippery Rock smelled blood in the water, registering five-goal and corner attempts.
Millersville’s defense was able to hold each attempt off until the 85th minute when a foul was called on Millersville, setting up Slippery Rock for the game-winning free kick behind the leg of Thornton with 5:43 left in the contest.
The win is Slippery Rock’s first of the season, and it snaps a two-game losing streak to start the season. Slippery Rock will look to continue the winning streak Saturday Sept. 9th against Shippensburg University.
