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EAST STROUDSBURG - Sophomore midfielder Shea Neal scored the game-winning goal on a header with 5:10 left in the second overtime, lifting No. 3-ranked East Stroudsburg University to its 16th straight victory with a 1-0 win over Slippery Rock in PSAC women's soccer on Friday afternoon at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Neal scored on a header off a short cross from junior forward Sammi Jo Hughes to give ESU (16-1, 14-1) a spot at the top of the PSAC standings entering the final day of the regular season on Saturday, when the Warriors host California at 1 p.m.

ESU entered the day tied for first with West Chester, which tied 1-1 with California on Friday. ESU (42 points) leads West Chester (40), California (33), Kutztown (33) and Slippery Rock (31).

The Warriors can secure the PSAC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in next week's PSAC Tournament with a win or tie against California, or a West Chester loss or tie against Slippery Rock. ESU holds the head-to-head advantage with West Chester by virtue of its 2-1 (OT) win at WCU on September 30.

ESU's 16 straight wins are a school record. The Warriors broke the single-season record (13) set in 1994 earlier this year, and broke the overall win streak record (15 - final 2 games of 1993, first 13 games of 1994) with Friday's victory.

Freshman Jules Harris made six saves for her seventh shutout (sixth solo shutout) of the year for the Warriors, who held a 17-10 advantage in shots - including 5-1 in the two overtime periods.

Senior back Lexie Peveraro cleared a ball off the ESU goal line less than two minutes into the second half and both teams had multiple scoring chances in the second period. Peveraro hit the crossbar with a shot 20 minutes into the half, ESU had a goal called back on offsides and both teams had shots roll just wide.

Slippery Rock played two goalkeepers with Annabelle Hegeman making three saves in the first half, and Shannon Mahoney making one save in the final 59:50.

ESU's 16 straight wins is tied for the 2nd-longest winning streak in PSAC women's soccer history (since 1994). West Chester won 23 straight in 2006, and California won 16 straight in 2013.

ESU tied a school record with its fourth overtime victory of the season and also won four extra-time games in 1998. The Warriors also had OT wins against Bloomsburg (2-1 in 97th minute, sophomore back Laurel Neira from freshman back Amanda Vojta), at West Chester (2-1 in 108th minute, sophomore forward Brielyn Hackett) and against Shippensburg (1-0 in 99th minute, Hughes from Neal).

The Warriors won their seventh straight home game after a season-opening 1-0 loss to Kutztown on Sept. 4. ESU is 9-0 on the road this season, setting a school record for consecutive road wins.

California (11-2-4, 10-2-3), the defending PSAC champion, comes to Eiler-Martin Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Vulcans have played in the PSAC championship game in each of the last four years, winning in 2011 and 2013, and recently have won the 2009 and 2011 NCAA DII Atlantic Region titles.


GAME NOTES
* Neal's goal was her 6th of the season and the 12th of her career. She was ESU's only returning All-PSAC selection, earning a spot on the first team as a freshman.
* Neal, Sr. F Courtney Keller and So. B Laurel Neira are tied for the team lead with 6 goals. Jr. F Sammi Jo Hughes and So. F Brielyn Hackett both have 5 goals.

* ESU led the PSAC with 2.81 goals per game entering the weekend. Fr. B Amanda Vojta (1 goal, 14 assists) was the only Warrior ranked in the top 10 individually in points.

* ESU is looking for its first PSAC regular season title. The Warriors finished 2nd in 1994 (8-1), 1997 (8-2) and 1998 (8-1-1), and 2nd in the PSAC East in 2007 (8-3-1), their first year under head coach Rob Berkowitz.

* ESU will play in the PSAC Tournament for the fifth time in eight seasons under Berkowitz. The Warriors advanced to the semifinals in 2007, 2008 and 2012 and played in the quarterfinals in 2009.

* ESU won PSAC tournament championships in 1994 (first awarded by the conference) and 1997.

* ESU's No. 3 national ranking is the highest in school history. The Warriors have been ranked in the NSCAA DII top 10 for 4 straight weeks - the last 2 weeks at No. 3, and the previous 2 weeks (Oct. 7, Oct. 14) at No. 6.