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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The 16th-ranked Slippery Rock University men's soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Millersville University Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

The Rock led 1-0 at halftime but Millersville scored two quick goals from long range in the second half to take a 2-1 lead and Slippery Rock could not find the equalizer. The Rock hit the post twice and had a breakaway that was cleared away at the last second by a Millersville defender, but just narrowly missed on multiple chances.

Slippery Rock ends the season as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion with a 13-4-3 overall record. The Marauders improved to 13-5-2 and advance to the NCAA Round of 16.

The game looked like a mismatch in Slippery Rock's favor in the opening minutes as The Rock managed four quick shots, including two that beat Millersville keeper Brad Benzing but were cleared away by a defender.

The opening goal of the game came in the 24th minute when Brandon Chiu took a pass from Dom Francis and fired a long shot over an out-of-place Benzing into the right side of the net.

The 1-0 margin stood until just after halftime when Austin Hoke scored his first goal of the season after a fluke mistake by Rock keeper Joe Agerskow. Hoke sent a cross into the box from 40 yards out that Agerskow went to snag, but missed and the ball slipped through his hands into the net to tie it at 1-1 in the 50th minute.

The Marauders caught The Rock off guard just a few minutes later when Clark Habecker fired another long shot, this one from nearly 30 yards out, that slipped inside the right side of the net to make it 2-1 in Millersville's favor in the 53rd minute.

That tally would be all the visitors would need, thanks to the post and the help of the defense.

Benzing made only one save in the game, picked up a yellow card and was badly out of place on many shot attempts and set pieces, but was bailed out by two defensive saves by Anthony Fratini and a game-saving stop from Hoke on a breakaway shot from Dom Francis in the final minutes.

Agerskow finished with eight saves and also got a defensive save from Joshua Gray.

Millersville finished the game with advantages of 17-14 in total shots and 11-5 in shots on goal. Slippery Rock posted a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.

The Marauders will play the winner of Sunday's game between Mercyhurst and Notre Dame next week in the Round of 16.

Saturday's game marked the final game in the careers of Rock seniors Agerskow, Gray, Michael Ramirez, Zach Hall and Thad Madzelonka. It is just the eighth defeat suffered by Slippery Rock in the last two complete seasons.