SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game to No. 17 Gannon University Wednesday afternoon at James Egli Field.
 
Slippery Rock (2-6-2, 1-3-2 PSAC) was great defensively as it limited The Golden Knights (8-2-1, 4-1-1 PSAC) to their second lowest scoring output of the season. Gannon entered the game as the top scoring team in the PSAC and having produced one goal or less just two times in 2016.
 
The Rock's backline also kept Hamza Mourchid, who has scored at least one goal in all but two games this season and is the PSAC's leader in goals, scoreless and to just two shots on goal.
 
Slippery Rock has held opponents to one or fewer goals in eight of its 10 games in 2016.
 
Goalkeeper Steven Rerick made his third start of the season for Slippery Rock, stopping a season-high seven shots and allowing one goal over 90 minutes.
 
Seven Slippery Rock players accounted for the team's 11 shots Wednesday. Kenton Keeslar led the way with three shots while Kyle Boyer and Mike Pcholinsky each attempted two shots as well. Jacob Thiel, George Oakley, Josh Allman and Justin Minda had one shot apiece.
 
Gannon controlled possession and the game's tempo through the opening part of the first half, but Slippery Rock countered in the middle portion of period by tallying four shots over a five-minute stretch with attempts from Keeslar, Boyer (twice) and Thiel.
 
SRU's best chance for a goal over the run came from Thiel, but a Gannon defender made up for goalkeeper Jorge Hernandez being out of position by managing to get in front of what would have been a sure Rock goal to keep the game even through 40 minutes.
 
Gannon broke the scoreless tie early in the 43rd minute off of a goal by Alex Schroeck to send the Golden Knights into halftime leading 1-0.
 
SRU continued to play superior defense in the second half and when Gannon did manage an attempt on goal Rerick was able to make the save to hold The Rock's deficit to just one goal. Offensively, SRU came up with five shots over the final 45 minutes, including a Pcholinsky attempt that Hernandez barely manage to deflect, but each shot ultimately was unable to get through as Gannon closed out the win.
 
Slippery Rock will look to return to its winning ways with a win 3:30 p.m. Saturday against East Stroudsburg University at James Egli Field on Youth Soccer Day.