SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team parlayed two early goals into a 2-0 shutout of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition Saturday afternoon.
 
The victory was The Rock's first of the season, improving SRU's record to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in PSAC play. The Raiders drop to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league games with the loss.
 
Freshman Nick Sodini paced The Rock's effort Saturday with the first goal and assist of his career. Sophomore Justin Minda also scored his first goal of the season in the win.
 
Sodini also finished the match with a team-high three shots on goal. Minda added two shots on goal also with Mike Pcholinsky and Liam Gasparotto each placing one attempt on target as well.
 
Goalkeepers Jonathan Sharp and Steven Rerick combined for the shutout. Sharp started the contest, stopping one shot in 51 minutes of play before giving way to Rerick who made one save in the game's final 39 minutes en route to the win.
 
Slippery Rock wasted little time putting the game out of reach as its scored both of its goals in the game's first 11 minutes. Minda got the run started when he placed his shot inside the right post and by Shippensburg goalkeeper Garrett Watson at 3:59 for the contest's first goal.
 
SRU continued to pressure the Shippensburg defense just over six minutes later when Minda placed another shot on goal that was saved, but Sodini rebounded the blocked shot and headed home the day's second goal to put The Rock comfortably ahead 2-0 just 10:55 into the first half.
 
Any thoughts of a Shippensburg comeback were put to rest over the remainder of the game as it became apparent that the Slippery Rock defense would be nearly impenetrable. Slippery Rock surrendered just two shots on goal Saturday, both of which came in the early moments of the second half that were saved by Sharp and Rerick, respectively.
 
Shippensburg managed four corner kicks in the game's final 20 minutes, but each attempt was successfully cleared by SRU as The Rock cruised to the 2-0 victory.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock held advantages over Shippensburg in total shots (15-10) and shots on goal (7-2). The Raiders edged SRU in corner kicks (9-1).
 
Saturday's win was the first in the head-coaching career for Slippery Rock's Steve Small. SRU has now won three straight games over Shippensburg.
 
Slippery Rock will look to even its record on the year when it plays at California (Pa.) 7 p.m. Tuesday in PSAC competition.