SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Daemen College women's soccer team opened its 2015 season today by taking on Slippery Rock University, one of the premier programs in the East Region who downed the Wildcats 7-1.

SRU, which boasts 19-consecutive winning seasons and nine NCAA Tournament berths in the last two decades, got two goals apiece from Dara Demich and Andrea Felix to run away with today's first-ever meeting between The Rock and the Wildcats.  The win evened SRU's record at 1-1 this season.

Demich got The Rock on the board early, scoring off a free kick from the top of the box in the ninth minute of the contest.  Mariah Varner added an unassisted tally in the 27th minute to put the hosts ahead by two.

But, Daemen responded with an unassisted goal by sophomore forward Stephanie Zurales (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) in the 28th minute, cutting the deficit in half.  For Zurales, the first-half marker was the second of her career, and it's the third time in her last four games that she's registered at least one point, dating back to last season.

With Daemen looking for the equalizer, SRU took control in a jiffy, scoring two goals in less than a two-minute span, upping the lead to 4-1 at halftime.  Felix assisted on a goal by Julianna Esposito at the 36:17 mark, later adding her first tally at the 38:12 mark.

Demich added her second of the game in the 76th minute. The Rock went on to add two more goals in the final five minutes of the match with the outcome not even in question.

SRU controlled possession, out-shooting Daemen 17-4 while placing 13 of those attempts on frame.

Freshman goalkeeper Meaghan O'Leary (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) went the distance between the pipes in her collegiate debut for the Wildcats, making six saves.  Her counterpart, SRU's Charlotte Elrod, made three stops to earn the win.

Daemen makes its 2015 home debut on Monday, September 7 when the Wildcats play host to Le Moyne College for a non-league affair at Dimp Wagner Stadium.

For continuing coverage on the Daemen College women's soccer team throughout the season, follow@DaemenWSOC and  @DaemenAthletics on Twitter.