Steady rain did not damper No. 19 Slippery Rock women’s soccer at home on Saturday as the Green and White’s high-octane offense reeled off six goals in a 6-0 drubbing of Mansfield University.
Senior leaders, forwards Brooke Testa and Skye Kramer, finally broke through and potted goals in the rout over the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foe. A Mountaineers’ foul in the box gave Testa a penalty shot in the 36th minute. Testa blasted the ball past the Mountaineers’ goalkeeper to bring the score to 2-0 late in the first half. Testa also provided the assist on freshman midfielder Jordyn Minda’s game-winning goal in the 10th minute of the match. Kramer piled onto The Rock’s avalanche of goals when she slotted the ball past the Mountaineers’ goalkeeper on an assist from freshman forward Rachel Edge in the 66th minute.
The Green and White love playing against the Mountaineers. In last season’s match-up, The Rock scored seven with Testa and Kramer each tallying a goal. The senior duo used this season’s match-up to kick start their seasons similar performances. Healthy and in form, the sky is the limit in the senior women’s last go around with The Rock.
Not content to take the back seat to the upperclassmen, the freshman class made a strong statement – contributing on five of the six goals. Minda recorded her second goal of the season on a beautiful volley that no goalkeeper would have been able to save. Edge’s three helpers tied for the second most single-game assist total in SRU history. A pair of freshmen, midfielder Georgia Nagucki and forward Reagan Reeves, tallied their first career SRU goals.
Senior goalkeeper Kylie Downs was only tested once, recording a save in the first half, before not facing a shot in the second. Downs currently ranks third in the PSAC in both goals against average and total goals allowed. The senior from Moon Township leads the PSAC in shutouts.
With the breakout game from the veterans, continued excellence from the youngsters and an All-PSAC goalkeeper, The Rock seems to be primed for a deep run through the conference. Head Coach Jessica Griggs’ pre-season observation already rings true: depth is the strongest attribute of this squad.
Eight players have contributed for the Green and White this season; four players already have four points. Two freshmen, Edge and Minda, and sophomore Kaitlyn Barackman currently sit atop The Rock leaderboards while Testa and Kramer round out the top five.
Following the dominating performance, The Rock moves to 3-1-0 (.750) with a (2-1-0) PSAC record to sit ninth in the conference. The Mountaineers’ loss, fourth consecutive, drops their record to 0-4-0 (.000) with an 0-4-0 (.000) PSAC record to sit 17th.
The Green and White look to start a winning streak against Clarion University on Wednesday, September 12th in Clarion, Pa at 7:00 PM. A non-conference match-up with Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio on Saturday, September 15th at 6:00 PM follows that up. The following week features a two game homestand against PSAC foes, Lock Haven University and Gannon University.
