In any sport, games can roll one way or the other of a single play. The Slippery Rock women’s soccer team knows that all too well.
Coming off two ties and a loss in the last three games, the Slippery Rock women’s soccer team took a 2-1 lead late into the game. This new generation of women’s soccer players at the Rock has had success early in the season sticking in close games. They have fallen just short of a win multiple times now, but seem to be on the verge of continuing the winning culture the program has historically had.
Going into Wednesday’s game, Slippery Rock had an even goal differential, but has only managed to put together a 1-1-2 record. That trend continued against Indiana (Pa.), the 2-2 tie left their season goal differential at four goals scored with four against. Their record would seem to suggest little success; however, a deeper look shows that the team is one or two plays every game away from posting winning results in nearly every game.
The game had the look of a shootout early, with the Crimson Hawk’s Hannah Scardina scoring her first goal of the season only one minute and 13 seconds into the game. Their lead did not last long, with The Rock’s Brooke Riefenstahl responding with a goal of her own, also her first on the season, at five and a half minutes into the game.
The offensive pressure continued, with Slippery Rock’s women tallying season highs in both shots, with 16, and shots on goal, with seven. IUP’s women also had their share of success, matching The Rock’s seven shots on goal.
Captain Kayla Swope was consistently involved in the offense, assisting Riefenstahl’s goal, and knocking in the go-ahead score much later on, 49 minutes in. Unfortunately for the Green and White, it would be the last time this game where an offensive push would finish with the ball in the net.
For the next 30 minutes, it appeared The Rock would fend off IUP for long enough to break through to a winning record for the second time this season, after starting out 1-0. That plan, however, was foiled when Aislinn Meaney knotted the game up at two. This continued Meaney’s strong offensive effort after she assisted the first goal of the game.
Slippery Rock women’s soccer put forward another valiant effort only to be marked with yet another tie, leaving their overall record at 1-1-3. They look to finally break through at Mercyhurst this Saturday. In their recent matchups, The Rock has seen success, winning two of the last three dating back to 2018.
