Late Goal Lifts IUP Past Slippery Rock and Into First Place in PSAC West

Boxscore

Ray Schreiner (pictured) scored on a rebound off the crossbar with 13:12 remaining in the game, giving IUP a 1-0 victory over Slippery Rock and moving into a tie for first place in the PSAC West women’s soccer standings.

IUP (8-3, 5-1 PSAC West) avenged a 2-1 loss to Slippery Rock on August 30 and created a tie for first place with The Rock (7-3-1, 5-2).  IUP, however, holds the tiebreaker based on Slippery Rock’s loss to Lock Haven.

If IUP and Slippery Rock finish tied for first, IUP will earn the top seed and a first round bye in the conference tournament.

Both teams entered the game ranked in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association poll, with Slippery Rock coming in at No. 15 in the nation and IUP at No. 23.

Goalkeepers Becky Dillard of IUP and Jen McCormick kept the game tied most of the way, with both making several solid saves.  Dillard finished the game with eight saves and McCormick had 10.

IUP finally broke through when Sarah Romasco’s blast beat McCormick but hit hard off the crossbar.  Schreiner gathered in the loose ball and put it in the net uncontested to score her seventh goal of the season.  Romasco was credited with her team-leading seventh assist.

Schreiner had an opportunity to score an insurance goal with just under two minutes remaining, but her one-on-one chance was denied by McCormick.

Slippery Rock held a 19-17 advantage in shots, but IUP had most of the better scoring chances, including eight corner kicks to only one for The Rock.

IUP plays another PSAC West game at California on Saturday at 1 p.m. before traveling to West Chester to face the fifth-ranked Golden Rams on October 3.

<back to top>