SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team earned a huge regional victory Wednesday night by defeating No. 25 Notre Dame College, 2-1, at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
The non-conference victory improved The Rock's record to 6-3 overall. Wednesday's win combined with SRU's earlier win at Wheeling Jesuit gives The Rock two consecutive wins over Mountain East Conference opponents. Notre Dame dropped to 6-3 on the season with the defeat.
 
Slippery Rock combined timely offense and an outstanding defensive effort that saw SRU withstand a barrage of 22 Notre Dame shot attempts to earn the victory.
 
The Falcons tallied six corner attempts and nine shots in the opening 40 minutes of the first half, but a stellar defensive effort from The Rock's backline as well as the quick reactions of junior goalkeeper Steven Rerick helped SRU maintain the 0-0 tie for the majority of the period.
 
The turning point of the match occurred in the 44th minute when Slippery Rock was awarded its first corner kick of the game. Freshman midfielder George Oakley played a pass to the middle of the Falcons' zone to senior forward Mike Ilodigwe, who took the pass and proceeded to beat NDC goalie Daniel Nagy for a goal at the 43:17 mark in the period.
 
The goal was Ilodigwe's third of the season while the assist was Oakley's first of his collegiate career.
 
While Notre Dame dominated possession in the first half, the second 45 minutes was much more even as both teams moved the ball in to its opponent's zone for scoring opportunities.
 
After six shots to start the second half, Notre Dame finally broke through The Rock's defense in the 67th minute when Alexis Le Ho launched a shot from 20 yards to beat Rerick and even the score at 1-1.
 
The contest appeared to be headed to overtime until junior forward Matt Sangermano took a throw-in and made a lunging pass to freshman midfielder Justin Minda to left of the NDC goal. Minda then slipped a shot by Nagy for the go-ahead goal at 82:36. The score was the first for Minda at Slippery Rock.
 
Notre Dame got off three more shots in the game's final minutes, but Rerick stopped two of the attempts and the third would harmlessly hit the post and bounce into his hands as Slippery Rock hung on for the one-goal victory.
 
For the game, Rerick made a career-high nine saves. The quartet of Minda, Ilodigwe, junior forward Peter Boylan and senior forward Gabriel Hrecznyj all registered shots on goal in the victory as well.
 
Slippery Rock will look to further its current winning streak when it returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition 1 p.m. Saturday against Bloomsburg University at James Egli Field.