SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The IUP women's lacrosse team fell behind early and couldn't overcome a decisive second quarter, falling on the road to a surging Slippery Rock squad by a 14-5 count on Saturday afternoon.
Entering the game on the outside looking in of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoff picture, IUP dips to 7-8 and 6-4 in divisional play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock records its eighth win in the last nine contests, improving to 12-3 (8-2 PSAC).
The Rock led wire to wire, creating enough separation with three second quarter goals. It was part of a larger seven-goal spurt for SRU, spanning the final minute of the first quarter into the third quarter.
SRU outshout IUP by a 27-20 margin but got a spark from
Mia Courtalis in goal down the stretch. Courtalis posted five saves, including some quality stops in the third quarter.
Offensively,
Leah Moyer accounted for three of the Crimson Hawks five goals.
Rylee Wilson added three ground balls, while
Rachel Knight paced the Hawks with three caused turnovers.
Sarah Reustle surpassed 200 career draw controls with two on Saturday, adding two ground balls and two draw controls.
Reagan Richeson guided the SRU offense with four goals, while Gillian O'Rourke picked up 14 saves on the afternoon in goal. A turnover-plagued game at time, O'Rourke came up large in goal throughout the day.
Emme Mass sliced the IUP deficit to 2-1 in the first quarter, as close as IUP would get on the afternoon.
SRU answered with five consecutive goals to close the half, before expanding the margin to 9-1 in the third. IUP closed the third quarter with goals from Moyer and
Macenzie Haragos, trimming the deficit to 9-3.
Moyer rounded out the scoring for the Hawks with goals at 3:22 and 0:45 of the fourth.
Up Next
IUP is back on the road for another important divisional matchup on Wednesday, May 1 at Seton Hill.
Follow
For coverage of the IUP women's lacrosse program, follow the Crimson Hawks on X (Twitter) and Instagram @IUPlacrosse and online at IUPAthletics.com.
