INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (9-5-0, 7-5-0 PSAC West) scored an impressive 2-1 victory over PSAC West Division leading Slippery Rock (12-3-0, 11-2-0 PSAC West) on Saturday afternoon in Indiana. Two stunning solo efforts (one in each half) by Mahogany Willis combined with a resolute defensive effort by the Crimson Hawks helped IUP to avenge their defeat to the Rock earlier in the season.
 
How it Happened
>> The Crimson Hawks would get on the board first on Saturday thanks to the first of Willis' two goals. Gia Martyn found Willis in her own half to start the move in the eleventh minute. Despite having half the field and the entire Slippery Rock defense between her and the goal, Willis took off on a mazy run which took her past numerous defenders and put her one on one with Emma Yoder in the Slippery Rock net. Having beaten some many opponents already, Willis wasn't going to let one more stop her, and she calmly bent the ball into the far corner of the net past Yoder to give the Crimson Hawks the lead.
>> Following the IUP goal the game settled into a pattern of Slippery Rock attack and IUP defense, as the Crimson Hawks seemed willing to cede possession to The Rock in the middle third of the field.
>> Slippery Rock would take advantage of their greater share of the possession in the 26th minute via a corner kick. Brooke Riefenstahl rose the highest to meet a Shannon McIntyre set piece to level the scores.
>> That goal seemed to galvanize the visiting side even more, and the Slippery Rock offense continued to ramp up their attacks on the IUP goal as the first half progressed. However, despite Slippery Rock earning several more dangerous corner kicks, The Crimson Hawks backline was able to hold firm and prevent The Rock from taking the lead before the break.
>> In the first meeting between these teams earlier in the season, the Crimson Hawks had also taken the in the firs half before then giving up an equalizer before the break. However, unlike that match it was the Crimson Hawks not Slippery Rock who would get the third goal of the match, and what a goal it was.
>> Just three minutes into the second half an Alayna Ryan pass found Willis in her own half and marked by two defenders. Willis managed to escape the Slippery Rock double-team before then blowing past three more Slippery Rock defenders on yet another 60 yard run. Once again WIllis had single-handedly managed to elude the entire Slippery Rock defense, though this time she lined up her shot from a bit further out, before blasting the ball past Yoder to give IUP the lead again.
>> With their lead back intact, the Crimson Hawks buckled down to defend their lead against the inevitable Slippery Rock offensive onslaught. Unlike in the first half, the Crimson Hawks were more than able to hold their own after retaking the lead, although the they did suffer a few close calls as the game continued.
>> Slippery Rock came closest to leveling the score twice in a five minute span shortly after Willis's goal. First in teh 55th minute when a long range shot from McIntyre hit the IUP crossbar, and then again in the 60th minute when a Slippery Rock corner kick was headed past Madeline Smakulski in the IUP net, only to be cleared off of the line and out of bounds to safety by an incredible defensive header from IUP fullback Megan Woodworth.
>> Smakulski would then be called into action in the 80th minute to deny a Slippery Rock breakaway with a great save to ensure that their would be no extra time on Saturday.

Game Notes
>> Willis picked up her 13th and 14th goals of the season against Slippery Rock.
>> She has scored in all three of her matches against Slippery Rock during her IUP career.
>> Willis now has 14 goals and 31 points which leads the PSAC in both scoring categories.
>> Alayna Ryan picked up her fourth assist of the season on Saturday.
>> Gia Martyn's assist on Saturday extends her scoring streak to three games. She has racked up a goal and two assists in matches against Salem, Gannon, and now Slippery Rock.
>> Goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski made 9 saves to pick up her 8th win of the year.
>> The Crimson Hawks recorded eight shots in the game.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks will host PSAC opponent Cal U on Wednesday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. at the South Campus Field.