Slippery Rock, Pa. - The IUP women's soccer team (3-2-0, 2-2-0 PSAC West) fell to the Slippery Rock women's soccer team (6-1-0, 5-0-0 PSAC) by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon in Slippery Rock, Pa. The Crimson Hawks battled the PSAC West division leading Slippery Rock to a 1-1 tie in the first half, before eventually succumbing to two late goals near the end of the match.  

How it Happened
>> The Crimson Hawks started the match on the front foot testing the Slippery Rock goal in just the third minute via a shot by freshman forward Samantha Joyce.
>> Minutes after Joyce's effort the Crimson Hawks would open the scoring with Mahogany Willis once again hitting the back of the net for the IUP cause.
>> Slippery Rock immediately went looking for an equalizer, forcing three corner kicks in the next ten minutes.
>> IUP was able to hold off the Slippery Rock pressure for most of the half, but in the  35^th minute Slippery Rock was able to equalize thanks to a fluky goal. IUP goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski made an excellent save on the initial Slippery Rock shot, only for the ball to rebound off of her into the net for the lucky score. 
>> Neither side was able to grab an advantage in the remaining ten minutes of the half, and for the second straight game the Crimson Hawks went into the halftime interval tied with their opponents.
>> After a slow start to the second half, the game exploded into life in the 56^th minute when Slippery Rock goalkeeper Emma Yoder made a fantastic double save to deny Mahogany Willis and then Samantha Joyce in quick succession to keep the game level.
>>  The home side responded to the Crimson Hawks' near miss by stepping up their attack, earning several corners and free kicks. In the 67^th minute Slippery Rock managed to take the lead for the first time in the game, following a series of slick one touch passing that eventually found Kayla Swope unmarked at the back post to tap home the goal.
>> The Crimson Hawks suffered another scare just minutes later when Swope's shot was pushed onto the post by Smakulski and rebounded out of the goal to keep the IUP deficit at one.
>> Slippery Rock would then double their lead in the 79^th minute when Sofia Harrison headed in a corner kick for the third Slippery Rock goal of the game.
>> With the lead secure, Slippery Rock was content to maintain possession and see out the final minutes of the match, consigning IUP to defeat.

Game Notes
>> Sophomore forward Mahogany Willis continued her remarkable streak of scoring in every match so far this season. Her tally against Slippery Rock improved her season total to a league leading nine goals so far this year. Willis also scored against Slippery Rock for the second straight year, and has three goals in her two appearances against The Rock.
>> Despite the defeat the Crimson Hawks maintained their record of having scored in every single match this year.
>> The IUP defense managed to hold Slippery Rock's leading scorer Rachel Edge goalless in the match, breaking her streak of five consecutive games with a goal.
>>The Crimson Hawks were outshot 19-10 in the match. Slippery Rock also earned 13 corners to IUP's 1.
>> Goalkeeper Madeline Smakulski made six saves in the game.

Up Next
>> The Crimson Hawks are on the road for the second straight match this week. IUP will head to Johnstown, Pa. on Saturday to take on the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats at 2:00 pm.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.