SALEM, W.Va. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 non-conference contest at Salem International University Tuesday afternoon. Patrick Sullivan registered his first goal of the season.
 
After Salem Int'l scored early, The Rock tied the game off a penalty kick by Sullivan. SRU entered the half level with the Tigers, but in the second period, SIU was able to record another score and hold off Slippery Rock for the 2-1 victory.
 
With the loss, The Rock falls to 3-6-3 overall, while Salem Int'l improves to 7-3-2.
 
Just four minutes into the first period, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead when Mark Bako-Ferenczi received the ball from Vitor Teixeira and Bryan Orta sending it past Rock goalkeeper Steven Rerick for the score.
 
In the 22nd minute, Sullivan was fouled in the box awarding him a penalty kick opportunity. The senior defender made it count and ripped one past goalkeeper Wiktor Stawski to tie the game, 1-1. It was Sullivan's first goal of 2017.
 
SRU nearly took the lead at 31:58 when Cory Olix fired one, but it went high. Both teams remained even into the break.
 
Following halftime, the Tigers took a 2-1 lead at 58:43. Sjoerd Schobbers chased down a rebound off a previous shot and put it past Rerick for the score.
 
SRU's best chance to tie the game was at 76:13 when Sean Tinney sent a shot on target, but it went high over the net.
 
Rerick kept The Rock in the game facing many shots throughout the contest. He finished with nine saves on 12 chances.
 
Up next, Slippery Rock will return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play when it faces Millersville 1 p.m. Friday at James Egli Field.



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