Slippery Rock, Pa. - Slippery Rock University claimed its first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women's soccer championship Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 win over visiting Lock Haven University on James W. Egli Field.
The win improved The Rock's record to 15-2-2 overall, which established a school record for single-season success. The previous bests were 14-5 marks by the 1996 and 2000 teams.
SRU now awaits the receipt of a berth in next weekend's NCAA Division II Northeast Regional tournament. The Rock began last week as the No. 2 ranked team in the region behind Adelphi (N.Y.)
Lock Haven, the No. 6 seed in the six-team conference playoffs, ended its season with a 10-12-1 record. The Bald Eagles knocked off third-seeded Kutztown and No. 2 West Chester in quarterfinal and semifinal action of the conference playoffs.
Junior midfielder Jessica Markowski scored one goal and had an assist to lead The Rock's offensive effort. Senior midfielder Annie Manno, sophomore midfielder Nici Spamer and freshman forward Lauren Steele had one goal each.
Junior forward Sarah Arsenault was credited with two assists, while freshman forward Meghan McGrath, who was named as the championship game MVP, had one assist.
Lock Haven scored the game's first goal at the 8:42 mark of the first half when Cheryl Runko converted an assist from Joanna Bisphan.
Steele's goal - her 17th of the season - came off an assist from Arsenault, and tied score at 1-1 at the 10:27 mark in the first half.
The Bald Eagles regained the lead at the 25:15 mark of the first half on a goal by Jennifer Meassick, assisted by Danielle Smith, before The Rock scored three unanswered goals.
Manno tied the score at 2-2 on an assist from McGrath at the 43:01 mark of the first half.
Spamer converted an assist from Markowski a minute and a half into the second 45-minute half to put SRU on top, 3-2.
The Rock extended its lead to 4-2 seven minutes into the second half on Markowski's goal, assisted by Arsenault.
Lock Haven trimmed the final margin to one goal at the 80:26 mark on a goal by Kimberly Thompson, assisted by Holly Homsher.
Rock sophomore goalie Amanda Wier and Lock Haven netminder Brandie Kessler had two saves each. The Rock outshot Lock Haven by a 9-7 margin.
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists
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1. 8:42 LHU-W Cheryl Runko Joanna Bisphan
2. 10:27 ROCK-W Lauren Steele Sarah Arsenault
3. 35:15 LHU-W Jennifer Meassick Danielle Smith
4. 43:01 ROCK-W Annie Manno Meghan McGrath
5. 46:37 ROCK-W Nici Spamer Jessica Markowski
6. 51:59 ROCK-W Jessica Markowski Sarah Arsenault
7. 80:26 LHU-W Kimberly Thompson Unassisted
Goalies
LH - Brandie Kessler (90:00) 2 saves
SR - Amanda Wier (90:00) 2 saves
Shots: LH 7, SR 9
Corners: LH 5, SR 3