Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University field hockey team was unable to earn its first road victory of the season Tuesday as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division foe Mercyhurst College defeated The Rock by a score of 2-1 at Tullio Field.

Freshman Kassondra Spangler led Slippery Rock (3-12, 1-5 PSAC-West) by scoring her first collegiate goal. Sophomore Gabrielle Malishchak aided Spangler's score and was credited with her first assist of the season. Senior Katie Krouse and freshman Rebecca Williams also tallied shots on goal for Slippery Rock.

As a team, Slippery Rock held 8-6 and 9-3 advantages in shots and corners respectively.

SRU quickly found itself in a 2-0 hole to begin the game as Tesa Ramsdell scored a pair of Mercyhurst (3-10, 2-3 PSAC West) goals in the first 13 minutes of play before The Rock managed their first shot of the contest.

Slippery Rock proceeded to pick up its offensive intensity and draw three corners while also firing four shots, two of which came from Krouse, the remainder of the half. However, the Lakers would successfully defend the SRU attack and take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

The Rock continued on the attack in the second half and finally broke through the Laker defense at 55:01 when Spangler struck a shot past Mercyhurst goalie Ashley Wiskup to pull Slippery Rock to within one goal at 2-1. But The Rock would be unable to add the equalizing goal as Mercyhurst held on for a 2-1 victory.

Senior goalie Lisa Belcastro took the loss for Slippery Rock after allowing two goals while making two saves.

Four of SRU's final five games of the season will be played at home in Thompson Stadium starting with Saturday's match against Limestone College at 2 p.m.