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Vincent Marino/IUP Sports Information
1
Slippery Rock ROCK-W (2-1, 1-1 PSAC)
2
Winner Indiana (PA) IUP (3-1, 2-1 PSAC)
Slippery Rock ROCK-W
(2-1, 1-1 PSAC)
1
Final
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Indiana (PA) IUP
(3-1, 2-1 PSAC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Slippery Rock ROCK-W 1 0 1
Indiana (PA) IUP 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Laith Zuraikat, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Crimson Hawks Upset No. 19 Slippery Rock 2-1.

INDIANA, Pa. – On a sweltering day that saw temperatures reach the high 90s, the IUP women's soccer team battled through the heat to upset No. 19-ranked Slippery Rock thanks to a brace of goals from Mahogany Willis and a career high 11 saves from goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski.
 
For the second game in a row, Willis opened the scoring for the Crimson Hawks (3-1, 2-1 PSAC). Just five minutes into the match midfielder McKenna Keffel played a great through ball to help spring Willis in behind the Slippery Rock defense and on a breakaway. With just the Slippery Rock goalkeeper to beat, Willis calmly slotted her shot into the net to give IUP the lead.
 
Despite Slippery Rock enjoying more of the possession and pressure as the half wore on, the IUP defense never really looked like being breached, so it was a bit of a sucker punch when the Rock was able to equalize with a breakaway of their own with just a minute left in the first half.
 
During the second half the weather continued to take a toll on both teams, as despite several hydration breaks mandated by the referees, neither team was able to fully establish a rhythm or grip on the game resulting in a back and forth affair.
 
With the game looking like it might be heading to overtime, Willis was able to get behind the Slippery Rock defenders once again in the 82nd minute. This time the key pass to spring her loose came from Carley Donia, and once she was through Willis again displayed a level of composure in front of goal not normaly expected of a player of her age, sliding the ball into the corner of the net from twelve yards out.
 
Slippery Rock would press for a second equalizer in the remaining few minutes of the game, but a series of saves by Smakulski helped to preserve the lead ensuring that the Crimson would open their home season with a victory.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks hit the road for more conference action at Shippensburg (3-0, 2-0 PSAC) on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at David See Field.

Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.
 
 
 
 
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