Mansfield Defense Gives Inspired Effort in 1-0 Loss to Slippery Rock in 2OT

MANSFIELD – It would be difficult to give a more inspired effort than the Mansfield defense displayed in a 1-0 loss in double-overtime to playoff-bound Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon on the Soccer Field.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie for 108 minutes before Brooke Edwards took a cross from Dara Demich and put it into the left side of the goal to end the marathon match.

The Mountaineer defense of Casey Reber, Sara Pierce, Kelly Howiszak and Sara Weaver along with goal Alana Greenawalt turned in its second stellar performance in the last two game – both against two of the top offensive teams in the PSAC.

Mansfield had two of its best opportunities late in the game when Danielle Lentz take a bending shot from the left side of the box that looked to be going inside the post before SRU keeper Annabelle Hegeman made a diving save.

With just two second remaining in the first overtime period, Kelsey Chapman's shot also resulted in a Hegeman save.

Greenawalt recorded 12 saves in goal for Mansfield while Hegeman had three saves for Slippery Rock.

Slippery Rock held a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks and had 13 shots on goal to Mansfield's three.

The win was the 250th in the career of Slippery Rock head coach Noreen Herlihy who becames just the 11th coach in Division II history to reach that milestone.

The Mountaineers will wrap up the 2014 campaign when they host playoff-bound Kutztown next Saturday for Senior Day.