SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Freshman Ally Burrows (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) scored five goals, including two during a second half comeback, as the 19th-ranked Crimson Hawks rallied and then held on for a 12-11 victory at upset-minded Slippery Rock on Wednesday night.
 
IUP stayed near the top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) women's lacrosse standings with the win, improving to 8-4 on the year and 6-1 in the league. The 6-1 record is tied with No. 7 West Chester for second and one game behind 7-0 Mercyhurst.
 
The game was tied at 8-8 at halftime, but Slippery Rock took a two-goal lead with back-to-back goals a minute apart early in the second half.
 
The Crimson Hawks then reeled off four straight goals, with the run started by Adriana Greco (Sound Beach, N.Y./Rocky Point) at the 24:35 mark. Burrows followed shortly after, with a Carissa Smith (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) goal putting IUP on top 11-10 and Burrows' fifth goal of the night making it a two-goal differential with 17:14 to play.
 
Slippery Rock cut the deficit to one at 12-11 with 15:45 left to play, but the IUP defense forced six turnovers and allowed three shots the rest of the way to clinch the victory. Sarah Knotts (Mount Airy, Md./Linganore) played the final 26:22 in the net for the Crimson Hawks, allowing just one goal and saving four shots to lead the defensive effort.
 
Eight of IUP's 12 goals were free position shots, as the Crimson Hawks connected on 8-of-13 attempts. Kim Hooven (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) tallied three goals and Smith scored twice, with Tara Nicholas (Germantown, Md./Northwest) and Greco each adding a goal.
 
IUP took an early 3-1 lead in the first half, with Hooven netting a pair of goals. The Crimson Hawks later led 6-3 until Slippery Rock scored five of the final seven goals to tie the game before the half.
 
The Crimson Hawks outshot Slippery Rock 26-to-17 and forced 20 turnovers on the night. They also held a 14-to-11 advantage in draws.
 
IUP will host West Chester in a huge PSAC tilt on Saturday afternoon at Miller Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's lacrosse on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPlacrosse.