The Slippery Rock women’s lacrosse team was in action on Sunday afternoon in Painesville, Ohio for a non-conference match up with the Lake Erie College Storm. The Rock overcame an early deficit to rattle off 12 of the next 13 goals in route to an 18-13 victory.
After the Storm’s Cecilia Spin scored an unassisted goal with 22:39 left in the first half, the Rock scored eight consecutive goals in a span of 13 minutes. Redshirt senior attacker Ally Culhane scored a pair of the goals, assisted by freshman midfielder Caitlyn Byerly and junior midfielder Erin Brown. Redshirt junior Tia Torchia also scored a pair with the latter assisted by junior midfielder Kelly Muenster.
The Rock went into the half up 11-4 with a 24 (16 on goal) to 6 (5 on goal) advantage in shots.
Coming out of the half, the Rock and the Storm traded goals until Slippery Rock weathered a late Storm push to come out with an 18-13 victory. Culhane, Torchia, Muenster and sophomore midfielder ShyAnne Toomer featured prominently in a half of more even play between the two teams. The quartet recorded four goals an assist in the second half combined to help lead the Rock to victory.
The Rock had goals from eight different women. Culhane, who recorded five to bring her season total to six, Toomer, who recorded four to bring her season total to five, Torchia, who recorded three to bring her season total to five and Junior defender Danie Porath recorded two goals to bring her season total to three. Muenster, senior attacker Bre Vodde, freshman attacker Jess Fullerton and freshman midfielder Jordan Grey recorded one goal each.
Muenster, Toomer, Brown, Byerly, and freshman attacker Francesca Lindelow each recorded an assist on a goal.
Senior goalie Emily Bitka and freshman goalie Haley Barrett shared the goal on Sunday. Bitka recorded six saves on thirteen shots which earned her the win. Barrett allowed seven goals on seven shots faced.
The Rock finished the game with a 38 (28) to 28 (19) advantage in shots. The Storm had the edge in saves with a 10 to 6 advantage while the Rock forced 23 turnovers to the Storm’s 19 forced.
The Rock converted on 26 of their 30 clearance attempts while the Storm converted on 19 of their 27 attempts. Each team recorded 23 groundballs.
With a win over the Storm, the Rock improves to 2-0-0 on the young season with a match-up with non-conference foe UVA-Wise this Saturday in Wise, Virginia. Slippery Rock will return home next on March 17th for the beginning of PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) play against West Chester University.
