Frostburg State University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Frostburg State Field Hockey team dropped their season opener 6-2 to Slippery Rock on Thursday afternoon.
 
SRU had the first chance of the game three minutes in, as freshman Jenna Yazzetti, making her first collegiate start, stopped an effort by Lucy Hutchinson. The Bobcats then worked their way up the field and earned a penalty corner but couldn't generate a shot out of it. Both sides struggled to create chances until the final five minutes, as The Rock ramped up their pressure, putting a shot wide before Yazzetti made back-to-back stops to keep the hosts off the board. Slippery Rock kept attacking, eventually working the ball into Hutchinson six yards from goal, shooting low past Yazzetti for a 1-0 lead. It looked as if SRU would double their advantage in the final minute, but a combination of Yazzetti and a clearance off the line by senior Morgan Sparks kept the deficit at one.
 
It took just over 20 seconds into the second frame for The Rock to add onto the lead, as Keila Schutte-Hanekom hit a backhanded shot from the top of the arc into the back of the cage. Momentum stayed with Slippery Rock as Yazzetti made another pair of saves before Coral Piramo gathered the ball at midfield and dribbled all the way into the arc, sneaking a shot inside the post for a 3-0 score. With FSU unable to get up the field, SRU tacked on another score with just over a minute left in the half, as Josie Schultz sent a ball to the middle of the box that deflected off a diving Yazzetti and into the air for Grace Williams to tap home the fourth of the day.
 
In another fast start by The Rock, they took their opening possession straight to the arc for Schutte-Hanekom to find Hutchinson to turn and fire to the roof of the net. Four minutes later, Williams netted her second of the day on a shot through the legs of Yazzetti for a 6-0 score. After Slippery Rock had another pair of efforts go wide, the Bobcats enjoyed their first sustained pressure of the game in the final three minutes of the period. Seniors Mikyla Rineer and Emma Price both drew saves from Leah Riegling, with the former also denied with a defensive save on the line as SRU maintained their shutout bid.
 
Yazzetti made another stop to begin the fourth frame, as three minutes later Frostburg peppered Riegling's goal again. Freshman Izzy Gibbons was denied on back-to-back chances, while Rineer also had a shot saved, however a penalty stroke was awarded for a foul on Riegling. Coming on to replace Riegling, Sam Black slid to her left to deny Rineer again. Inside the final eight minutes, sophomore Brooke Saul denied a shot on the line while Piramo put a penalty stroke high, both helping put a spark in FSU. After working the ball down the right side of the field, sophomore Caroline Earnshaw received a pass deep into the arc, cutting it back for freshman Alayna Enoff to sweep home for her first collegiate goal and Frostburg's first of the season. The Bobcats weren't done yet, as sophomore Makenna Buffington corralled a loose ball in the arc and passed to the left side for junior Rachel Young to squeeze past Riegling and a 6-2 final score.
 
With the loss, Frostburg begins the season 0-1 while Slippery Rock is 1-0. FSU remains on the road as the travel to Wingate on Saturday, September 5 at 8:30 a.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.