Frostburg State University Athletics

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Frostburg State Women's Soccer team saw their unbeaten start to the season come to a close on the road Saturday, falling 1-0 to Slippery Rock.
 
Within the first couple seconds of the match, junior Mollie Rebuck had a shot right at keeper Leah Allman, as the Rock then gave the ball away almost immediately on two occasions, with junior Cassidy Paige and Rebuck putting good looks wide of goal. A minute later, Rebuck was nearly played in by a poor back pass, however Allman was quick off her line to shut down the effort. SRU settled themselves in for the next few minutes, as their first attack resulted in Lilia Battalini firing over the bar from the edge of the 18.
 
FSU regained the upper hand through much of the half, as junior Ainsley Wilson lofted a hopeful ball into the box which was met by Rebuck but put wide of the net. Junior Ana Davis then had a shot charged down while senior Madison Hinton tried her luck from distance, which Allman gathered. Rebuck continued to earn herself chances, as her pressure up front produced a mistake which she turned into a shot destined for the bottom corner if not for the fingertips of Allman.
 
With the Bobcats putting together another attack down the right side, junior Madison Hobson sent a fantastic cross into the box and onto the head of Rebuck, but again the shot couldn't find the back of the net. In similar fashion at the other end, Battalini thought she had a score on a counterattack but senior Mia Graff got down just in time to push the ball into safety. The final effort of the half came for the Rock though the effort was blocked before getting close to Graff.
 
Frostburg looked to keep their momentum going into the second half, as within the first five minutes, Paige cut inside on her left foot and hit a shot just over the bar, while Hinton did the same on her right. Slippery Rock hit right back, as two minutes later, Sophia Palermo went on a driving run from midfield, hitting the ball from just outside the 18 on the bottom of the crossbar and in for the opening goal.
 
Searching for a quick response, Rebuck and Hobson both had efforts blocked in the next five minutes. SRU was back on the ascent, however, as they dominated the next 10 minutes with chances. After a couple shots hit Bobcat bodies, a corner paved the way for a scramble in the box, with Palermo blasting a shot that junior Kayla Doty somehow was able to tip over the bar. Palermo then put a volley well over the bar, while Peyton Los tried to catch Doty out after she came out of the box to clear the ball, but put the shot wide of the net.
 
Midway through the half, Abby Paterline headed just off target, while Frostburg finally got a shot away courtesy of a corner, where senior Ella Combs lofted a volley high. The Rock went back to generating chances, as junior Ridgely Houck did extremely well to get back on the line and make a goal-saving clearance off Battalini, who then shot straight at Doty on the follow-up. At the other end, junior Rayiah Davis latched onto a cross in the box before firing over the bar.
 
Going into the final 20 minutes, Hinton chipped a great ball through to Rebuck, who charged on goal but could only hit Allman's chest on a powerful shot. Hobson then sent a free kick to the edge of the area that junior Elena Fernandez met with her head but was gathered by Allman. With eight minutes to go Fernandez made a surging run down the right wing, firing a cross in that Hinton caught up to but didn't have the angle to get on target. FSU wouldn't be able to get another shot at an equalizer, with Battalini having the final effort of the game on a high shot with five minutes left, ending things at 1-0.
 
The Bobcats held a 20-15 advantage in shots, with seven on target to the hosts' five.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 2-1 on the year, while Slippery Rock improves to 3-1. FSU will remain on the road as they next travel to Wheeling on Wednesday, September 9 at 4 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.