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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Brandon Chiu scored two goals and Chris Zier made 10 saves in his first start in a Slippery Rock uniform to lead The Rock men's soccer team to a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Cedarville University in non-conference action at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium Wednesday.

Chiu scored an early goal in the first half and then tallied the game-winner in the 85th minute with a solo breakaway to spark The Rock's offense, while Zier was outstanding between the posts, recording 10 saves in his first start with the team.

Slippery Rock bounced back from its first loss of the season to improve to 4-1-1 overall. Cedarville entered the game with an unbeaten record that included a tie at Division I Xavier, but fell for the first time to drop to 4-1-2 on the year.

The game was fairly even in every statistical category as both teams saw significant stretches of possession and each team had multiple scoring chances. Slippery Rock finished with an 18-16 edge in total shots, while Cedarville posted an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams were awarded five corner kicks.

Yellow Jacket goalkeeper Ethan Dewhurst recorded four saves in the loss.

The first goal of the game came off an assist from Zach Hall in the ninth minute when Hall swung a cross from the right side into the box to a wide open Chiu, who slipped it into the net to put The Rock up 1-0.

Cedarville tilted the field toward the end of the half and found the equalizer on a rebound in the 40th minute. Daniel Rigby's initial shot was saved by a diving Zier, but the ball deflected off the post to a wide open Jon Earl, who put home an easy goal to tie it at 1-1 heading into the break.

Both teams had chances in the early portion of the second half, but neither team could break through until Chiu's game-winner in the 85th minute. He won a challenge at midfield before splitting a pair of defenders and taking off on a 40-yard solo run up the middle of the field. When Dewhurst came out to challenge, Chiu slid a shot past him for his second goal of the game.

The Yellow Jackets threatened late with two corner kicks in the final two minutes, but The Rock defense was able to clear the zone, which led to a counter attack goal from Dom Francis as time expired. With the Cedarville keeper out of the net, Francis took a pass near midfield from Ryan Lutke and fired a 45-yard shot into an empty net with one second remaining to account for the final score.

Wednesday's game was the first meeting between the two programs and was the second-to-last non-conference game Slippery Rock will play this season. The Rock wraps up the non-conference slate Sunday with a 3 p.m. game at No. 22 Charleston (W. Va.).