SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University Inline hockey program is growing up fast.

Only in existence since 2004, The Rock’s Tier 1 travel team is headed to Madison, Wisc., Tuesday to compete in the American Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (ACRHA) National Championships.

SRU (13-5-1) received an at-large bid for the 16-team tourney after dropping a 7-4 decision to Pitt in its league semifinals.

Pitt is 14-3-3 on the year, with both of its regular season losses occurring at the hands iof Slippery Rock.

“We have a tremendously talented team from top to bottom,” first-year SRU coach Mike McCue said. “Most (Inline) teams have one or two players who excel over everybody else.

“Our team is different. It’s much tougher to defend.”

The Rock has 11 skaters and one goaltender. Eight of the 11 skaters have scored at least nine goals this season.

SRU was ranked as high as fourth in the nation prior to its league playoffs.

Ryan McGeehan, who is from the Slippery Rock area, leads the team with 21 goals. He and Josh Newton share the team lead with 31 points.

Newton has scored 18 goals, Mike Stell 17.

Goalkeeper Christian Ricketts is ninth in the nation with a 3.61 goals against average and ranks 10th with an .851 save percentage.

“We average eight or nine goals a game and Christian keeps us in every game. He’s an incredible player,” McCue said.

McCue coached Shaler High School teams and a Pittsburgh travel team before taking over The Rock this season. SRU has scored 127 goals in 19 games.

SRU plays its home games at Neville Island. The overall program has 62 players and five teams, with the best players in the system comprising the travel team.

The Rock had one Inline team in 2004 and expects to have six next year, adding a second travel team.

“The success of the Penguins hockey team helps increase interest in playing this sport,” Ricketts said. “Ice hockey is expensive and Inline is just as competitive at nowhere near the cost.”

McCue said it may cost $2,000 to play a season of ice hockey compared to $250 to play Inline.

“A few of our players came over from ice hockey because of the cost,” he said.

The national tournament runs Wednesday through Sunday. SRU will play in a four-team pool with the University of Illinois, California and Bethel (N.C.).

The team primarily funds itself, though it has received $1,500 of university funds to help cover its upcoming expenses.

“We’ve raised another $2,000 through fundraisers,” Ricketts said. “We held a 3-on-3 (Inline) tournament in Glenshaw and have another one this weekend.

“We’ve sold T-shirts and wrist bands, sought donations from local businesses, family and friends.”

McCue described the team as close-knit on and off the playing surface.

“They play and work together and they care about each other,” he said. “It’s easy to root for these guys ... and they’ve got a real shot at winning this thing.”