Box Score
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team held East Stroudsburg to just one shot in the second half, but could not recover from two early goals in dropping a 2-1 decision Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference match at Jim Egli Field.
East Stroudsburg (2-6-1, 1-3-1 PSAC) got two early goals from Nemanja Nikolic and Slippery Rock (3-5-0, 2-4-0 PSAC) was unable to find the equalizer, despite controlling the play for much of the final 70 minutes of action.
The Rock finished the game with advantages of 9-7 in total shots and 6-2 in corner kicks, while East Stroudsburg posted a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
Timothy White took the loss in goal for SRU, recording three saves and allowing two goals. Sean Murphy earned the win for ESU, allowing one goal and recording two saves.
Nikolic put the visitors on the board at the 6:56 mark after he found the back of the net off a header pass from Steve Sollecito on a corner kick attempt.
Nikolic scored the eventual game-winner at the 20:07 mark after Matthew Geidner played a long ball up the middle of the field and Nikolic slipped a shot underneath White as he slipped on the soaked field when he came out to challenge.
The Rock battled back when
Chris Hall notched his first career goal at the 28:56 mark to cut it to 2-1.
Brandon Chiu played a ball down the right wing and Hall struck a pure shot from a near impossible angle that found the far side of the net.
Slippery Rock kept the pressure on throughout the second half, and managed to allow only one shot from East Stroudsburg that came with under five minutes to play, but the hosts could not find the equalizer.
The Rock is back in action Wednesday, Oct. 5, when they travel to Seton Hill for a non-conference match. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
