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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Behind a strong defensive performance and a first half goal by Matt Sangermano, the Slippery Rock University men's soccer team defeated Urbana University, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The victory improves The Rock's record to 1-1 on the year and marked the first victory for head coach Andy Hoggarth at Slippery Rock. The non-conference loss drops Urbana's record to 0-2 on the season.
 
Sangermano's goal came on his only shot of the day and was his first of the year. Two of Stephen Donnelly's team-high four shots were on target. Ryan Van Dorick also chipped in a pair of shots on goal.
 
With Urbana holding the ball for much of game, goalkeeper Steven Rerick stayed busy. He finished the match with eight saves to earn the shutout victory which was his first win at Slippery Rock.
 
Urbana controlled possession for the opening 30 minutes of the first half, but The Rock's defenders did a terrific job clearing numerous Blue Knight chances in the box with Rerick making several great stops including a point-blank save on Alpha Berry's shot from less than three yards out in the 21st minute.
 
However, Slippery Rock's offensive attack started to turn around over the final 15 minutes of the opening period. Sangermano capped off the run by beating two Urbana defenders before finishing with a shot past Urbana goalie Nathan Jones to the bottom left of the goal to give Slippery Rock a 1-0 edge at 40:17.
 
The Rock defense continued to persevere on the Urbana end of the field in the second half by successfully clearing four Urbana corner kicks to go with Rerick stopping four shots. Urbana appeared to have tied the game with 24 minutes to play, before having the goal waved off due to a Blue Knight player being called offside.

Donnelly highlighted The Rock's attack in the final 45 minutes with two attempts that just missed giving SRU its second and third goals of the day. The first came in the 53^rd minute when his deep shot went just high and hit the crossbar. The second strike came in the final moments of contest on a ball that was stopped by Jones.
 
Urbana held a 21-11 edge in total shots over Slippery Rock. Both sides recorded five corner kicks.
 
Mike Bamber paced the Blue Knights with five shots, three of which were on goal. Jones stopped five shots in the defeat.
 
Slippery Rock continues non-conference play when it hosts the University of Charleston on Wednesday at 4 p.m.