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CALIFORNIA, Pa. – A pair of miscues by Slippery Rock University players led to both California University (Pa.) goals and lifted the Vulcans to a 2-1 win over The Rock Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
After neither team could gain momentum early, a Slippery Rock turnover just inside midfield gave California an easy breakaway one-on-one with the keeper and Janelle McCann scored to the left side of the net to put the hosts up 1-0 in the 29th minute.
 
Slippery Rock flipped the field for most of the second half and was threatening to score when a Rock forward misplayed a pass inside the box and allowed California to clear the ball forward to an open McCann, who broke in and beat the keeper one-on-one again to make it 2-0 in the 82nd minute.
 
The Rock cut into the deficit in the 88th minute when Dara Demich crossed a pass into the box and Tess Keeley headed home her sixth goal of the season, but it would be too little too late after the second Vulcan goal.
 
Slippery Rock is eliminated from the PSAC tournament with an 11-6-1 overall record and now finds itself in the same position as last year, knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinal and forced to wait until Monday to hear about a possible NCAA tournament berth.
 
The Rock was third in last week's NCAA regional rankings, meaning there is still a good chance the team will earn an at large bid to the tournament. It is likely that all four teams playing in the PSAC semifinals this weekend (East Stroudsburg, California, West Chester, Kutztown) have punched their tickets to the tournament, leaving two additional spots. Those spots will likely be battled for by Slippery Rock, Edinboro, Notre Dame and West Virginia Wesleyan. The NCAA will announce the tournament field in a live webcast Monday night at 7 p.m. at the link above.
 
Last year, Slippery Rock was eliminated in the PSAC quarterfinals by Gannon and went on to win the Atlantic Region title and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
 
California owned the advantage early in the game Tuesday, outshooting Slippery Rock 5-3 in the opening period and 3-1 in shots on goal.
 
The Rock flipped the edge in the second half and posted an 8-6 advantage in total shots to give both teams 11 shots in the game. California finished with an 8-5 edge in shots on goal and Slippery Rock posted a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Annabelle Hegeman took the loss in goal for Slippery Rock after recording six saves. Meghan Jayes picked up the win after recording four saves in net for California.
 
Keeley led all SRU players with two shots in the game, while McCann finished with a game-high four shots, all on goal.
 
If Tuesday's game was the final game of the year for Slippery Rock, it would cap the program's 20th consecutive winning season and 18th straight with at least 10 wins.
 
 
NOTES: Slippery Rock lost at California for the first time since the 2011 season … The Rock had won their last five meetings with California, including in the regional final last fall … California improved to 50-4-6 at home since the Phillipsburg Soccer Complex opened … three of those four losses are against SRU.