INDIANA, PA – Brittney Kuhns (Middleburg, Pa. /Midd-West) knocked header passed the Slippery Rock goalie in the 96th minute to thrust 16th-ranked IUP past the rival Rock in a 1-0 thrilling overtime women's soccer contest at South Campus Field on Saturday.
 
The goal came after a nice cross pass from Victoria Crawford (Port Matilda, Pa. /State College), who sprinted down the left flank and found Kuhns on the right side of the net.
 
It was Kuhns' fourth goal of the season, helping the Crimson Hawks improve to 5-1 overall, boasting an identical record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). She's now tied with Crawford for the league lead in goals, while Crawford also leads the PSAC with nine points on the season.
 
The goal was at the end of a tough defensive battle, as both teams combined for 13 shots on goal. Slippery Rock held the advantage in that department, getting off 14 shots with eight on target. IUP goalie Jessica Printz (Fairfax, Va./WT Woodson) came up with seven saves on the day as she posted her fourth shutout of the season.
 
Slippery Rock (3-2-1, 2-2-1) controlled the ball for big chunks in the first and second half, contributing to its shot advantage in the game. The defense stepped up in several key spots, with Kelly Jacobson (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora), Cassidy LeDonne (Murrysville, Pa. /Franklin Regional) and Jeanella Hughes (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Arcadia) clearing out multiple chances. Alyanna James (Newmarket, Ont./Newmarket) had a huge save in the first half, knocking away a loose ball that had gotten past Printz and almost trickled into the net.
 
The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Wednesday when they host Shippensburg (1-2-1, 1-2-1). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.