Slippery Rock Blanks Millersville in PSAC Quarterfinal
Abby Paterline's early goal and a Lilia Battalini finish carried Slippery Rock to a 2-0 quarterfinal win.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Soccer
Slippery Rock women's soccer defeated Millersville University 2-0 in the PSAC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday. Sophomore Abby Paterline scored 2:44 into the match, and Lilia Battalini added her seventh goal of the season.
Why it matters
The win is Slippery Rock's first postseason victory since 2024 and its first postseason home win since 2019. It sets up a PSAC semifinal at home against West Chester University on Friday, the first meeting between the two programs since 2019.
Battalini scored her seventh goal of the season, and Paterline's opening strike came on the first shot of the match by either team. Leah Allman made saves throughout, while a Millersville goal was disallowed for offsides in the 57th minute.
The players
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock University is a public university in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
West Chester University
West Chester University is a public university in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and a member of the PSAC, with a women's soccer program ranked No. 15 nationally.
The details
Paterline's goal came on the first shot of the game for either team, and Battalini entered as a substitute in the 25th minute before scoring shortly after. Libby Earley received a yellow card in the 86th minute as Millersville pressed for a response that did not come.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Slippery Rock defeats Millersville 2-0 in the PSAC quarterfinals.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Slippery Rock hosts West Chester in the PSAC semifinals.
Season Trajectory
The quarterfinal win moves Slippery Rock into a PSAC semifinal against No. 15 West Chester, a step that tests whether the team can sustain postseason momentum after breaking a long drought. The result also reflects a season in which Battalini's scoring has been a central contributor to the offense.
The semifinal win would send Slippery Rock to the PSAC championship match, keeping its postseason run alive. Fans planning to attend can watch the Friday semifinal at home against West Chester.
The takeaway
A sophomore's early goal and a substitute's finish produced a clean postseason win that keeps Slippery Rock moving forward. The home semifinal against West Chester will show whether that momentum holds against a higher-ranked opponent.
What happens next
Slippery Rock hosts West Chester University in the PSAC Tournament semifinals on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Further reading
Follow the latest in Soccer coverage across the Pennsylvania conference circuit.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Rocket - The independent, student-run newspaper at Slippery Rock University.
