Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The 12th-ranked Slippery Rock University men's soccer team won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship Saturday night with a 2-1 win over No. 1 Millersville at Thompson Stadium in front of 1,217 fans.

Jeremy Deighton was named the game's Most Valuable Player after scoring the first goal of the game and assisting the game-winner.

The Rock scored first in the 31st minute when Millersville keeper Matt Langione came out of the box to contest a breakaway. Kenneth Fultz made a move around Langione and centered a pass to Deighton, who headed home his 17th-goal of the season.

Langione was ejected in the 34th minute after he came out of the box to contest a breakaway attempt by Iain Langstone. Langione was red-carded after being called for a handball out of the box and Millersville was forced to play a man down for the final 56:36.

The Rock added an insurance goal in the 51st minute when Deighton beat his defender and found a streaking Langstone who beat backup keeper Kurt Pleier into the left side of the net to put Slippery Rock up 2-0.

Pleier kept his team in the game, robbing Deighton and three straight shots from in front of the goal, and the Marauders tallied their only goal of the game in the 61st minute when Kyle Loughlin buried a shot into the left side of the net from 15-yards out to bring the score to 2-1.

The Rock was on its heels for much of the duration of the second half, but Millersville could not find the equalizing goal. The best chance came in the 76th minute when Laughlin had a point-blank look at an open net, but Patrick Conley made a game-saving play by sliding in front of Laughlin to block the shot.

Rock keeper Greg Blum earned the win in goal after allowing one goal and recording two saves. Pleier was credited with the loss after allowing the game-winner and recording four saves.

Slippery Rock finished the game with advantages of 12-10 in total shots and 8-3 in shots on goal. Millersville held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.

The PSAC Championship is the first for Slippery Rock since 2005 and the third in the history of the program. The win is also the first win in school history over a top-ranked opponent and the second title for Rock head coach Matthew Thompson.

With the win, Slippery Rock matches a school record for wins with a 17-3-1 overall record. The loss was just the second of the season for Millersville, which falls to 17-2 overall.

Both teams will wait for the NCAA Division II Selection Committee to release the National Tournament pairings Monday night at 7 p.m. The selection show will air at www.NCAASports.com. The top four team in each region get into the tournament, with the top seed in each region playing host to the opening two rounds. Entering Saturday's game, Millersville was the top seed in the Atlantic Region. Slippery Rock was the second seed.

Complete details about the NCAA Tournament pairings will be added to www.RockAthletics.com Monday following the airing of the selection show.