SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Lock Haven University lacrosse team (4-5, 4-6 PSAC West) downed Slippery Rock University (5-7, 4-7 PSAC West) in a crucial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division matchup.

Needing a win to keep their PSAC playoff hopes alive, the Bald Eagles came out of the gates fast and scored the opening three goals of the game to shoot out to a 3-0 lead in the opening ten minutes. LHU continued their impressive start and led 5-1 with 11 minutes to play in the opening half, but The Rock responded in a huge way and scored five unanswered goals in four minutes to take a slender 5-6 lead. The two sides traded goals in the remaining minutes and were locked into an intense 7-7 battle at halftime.

With their postseason dreams hanging in the balance, The Haven asserted themselves in the second half and put themselves in the driver's seat hitting Slippery Rock with a decisive 5-1 run to take a 12-8 lead with just nine minutes to play. LHU held their advantage despite a pair of late goals from The Rock and brought home an impressive 14-10 victory to keep themselves alive in the postseason push.

Leading from the back was a determined Lauren Girardi (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown), who finished just one shy of her career best making 18 huge saves for the Bald Eagles. Girardi has reached double digits saves in all but one of her appearances and set a season high with today's mark.

Offensively, Campbell Brant (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) put on a similarly sparkling performance posting a career-high six points. The junior attacker found the back of the net three times, including the game's opening goal just 1:15 into the game. Brant also handed out three assists in the game to cap an impressive win.

Braxtin Reddinger (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) led all players scoring four times for the Bald Eagles. Karli Gilbert (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown) continued her impressive form scoring a trio of goals for the second straight game.

Caitlin Morrow (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) chipped in another four points off one goal and and three assists, while Josey Shaffer (West Minster, Md./Manchester Valley) and Casey Hibbard (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) added two goals and two assists, respectively. Rounding out the strong offensive performance, Zoe Waddell (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) tallied a goal, and Raleigh Bateman (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) added an assist.

Rounding out a strong all-around effort, Elizabeth Newman (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey) left her fingerprints all over the action forcing three Slippery Rock turnovers and scooping up a career-best five ground balls.

Next Up:
The Bald Eagles finish their playoff push when they host Indiana (Pa.) in the final regular season game of the year on Thursday (April 29) at 5:00 p.m. on Charlotte E. Smith Field.