SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (10-9-0, 8-9-0 PSAC West) saw thier season come to an end on Tuesday afternoon in the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals at Slippery Rock University. The Crimson Hawks were defeated by the Slippery Rock women's soccer team (16-3-0, 15-2-0 PSAC West) by a score of two to one to bring an close to what was an exciting season for IUP.

How it Happened
>> Tuesday's match was played in less than ideal conditions, with the Mihalik Thomson Stadium turf still covered with snow, making the playing surface much less predicable than usual.
>> The adverse weather conditions didn't seem to affect the home side too much though, as Slippery Rock raced off to a fast start, earning five corner kicks in the first ten minutes.
>> It took the Crimson Hawks until the 15^th minute of the match to establish any sort of possession in the offensive third, but just seconds after their first real chance of the game the Crimson Hawks would take the lead with their second shot of the game.
>> Forward Mahogany Willis went on a driving run into the Slippery Rock box with drew two Rock defenders and the Slippery Rock goalkeeper to her. Willis took advantage of the attention to slip the ball to her wide open strike partner Taylor Karan who blasted the ball into the Slippery Rock net for the opening goal of the game.
>> The Crimson Hawks would then find themselves on the other end of a two goal sucker punch just minutes later.
>> A long range strike in the 25^th minute would put Slippery Rock back on level terms with IUP, and just a minute and a half later the host side would go in front following some intricate build up play which led to a close range shot and goal.
>> The Crimson Hawks would get their best chance to draw even before the break in the 40^th minute. Samantha Joyce got free down the Slippery Rock wing and delivered a dangerous cross into the Slippery Rock box which eventually found its way to Gia Martyn. However, Martyn's spinning shot would go just wide, and the Crimson Hawks went into the halftime break down by a goal.
>> The second half saw the return of both the sun and the field from under its winter coating, providing for a much better surface of play for both sides.
>> That relief would be short lived though, as just minutes after the restart the weather picked up yet again, and with it the Slippery Rock attack.
>> IUP goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski would be called into action in the 55^th minute by making a sliding save on a Slippery Rock forward to keep the Crimson Hawks in the game.
>> IUP answered with a chance of their own in the 65^th minute, but a long shot from Alayna Ryan didn't provide too much trouble for Emma Yoder in the Slippery Rock net.
>> While the IUP defense was able to contain the Slippery Rock offense for the rest of the match, the Crimson Hawks offense was also faced with a similarly stifling opponent.
>> Despite a few half chances as the game progressed, the Crimson Hawks were unable to score the goal needed to extend their season, and the fulltime whistle brought with it an end to the 2019 campaign for IUP.

Game Notes
>> The host side outshot the Crimson Hawks 23-5.
>> Goalkeeper Madleine Smakulski made 11 saves in the match.
>> Forward Mahogany Willis picked up her fifth assist of the year in the loss.
>> Willis ended the season with 15 goals and 5 assists for a total of 35 points, all of which are new single season career highs for her.
>> Senior forward Taylor Karan scored IUP's lone goal in the match. Karan's strike was her sixth of the year. She added one assist on the year to set new personal bests in goals (6) and total points (13).

Crimson Hawks Improve on 2018 Finish
>> Despite seeing their season come to an end on Tuesday, the Crimson Hawks will look back on the season with a fair amount of pride in their accomplishments.
>> The IUP women's soccer not only improved on its win total from 2018, but the 10 wins the team earned is the second most by the program in the past nine seasons.
>> The Crimson Hawks also improved upon their final conference standing, jumping from 10^th place last year to 8^th place this season.
>> The IUP offense also continued to develop this past season, scoring a total of 37 goals, 6 more than the previous season.
>> On the defensive front the Crimson Hawks also built on their previous success, cutting down their average goals allowed per game from 1.83 to 1.37, while also earning 2 more shutouts this season than the previous one.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks will wait to see which members of the team received conference and regional accolades for their exploits this year.