SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team defeated Bloomsburg University 1-0 Saturday evening at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Luke Picchi recorded the first goal of his Slippery Rock career.
 
The Rock scored its lone goal in the first period and the Huskies were unable to battle back into the game. Jonathan Sharp recorded six saves in goal and tallied his fourth shutout of the season.
 
With the win, SRU improves to 3-5-3 overall and 2-2-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play. Bloomsburg drops to 1-8-0 and 0-6-0 in league play.
 
Slippery Rock nearly took an early lead at 1:19 when Igor McVeagh launched a shot that went wide. Just three minutes later, McVeagh fired a shot off a corner that went high.
 
At 14:58 Sean Tinney sent one on target that was blocked by a Bloomsburg defender. Two minutes later Kyle Boyer fired one that was also blocked by the BU defense.
 
After a steady dosage of shots from SRU throughout the half, The Rock finally broke through at 37:55 when George Oakley booted one that deflected off the post, and Picchi headed it into the net for the score. It was Picchi's first goal since joining the Slippery Rock roster this fall, and Oakley's third assist of 2017.
 
The action was not done however as at 43:43 Bloomsburg received a red card that resulted in the Huskies having to play a man down for the remainder of the game.
 
Picchi nearly made it a 2-0 game following the ejection at 44:47, when he headed one toward the goal, but it went wide. The Rock took its 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
Slippery Rock continued its barrage of shots throughout the game totaling five in the second period and finishing the match holding the advantage in shots, 15-10.
 
SRU almost made it 2-0 again at 61:07 when Patrick Sullivan fired a header off a corner kick that goalkeeper Taylor Lesage saved.
 
The best chance for Bloomsburg to level the score happened at 87:50. Samuel Izzo sent one on target, but Sharp was there to clean it up for the save. Slippery Rock held on for the 1-0 victory.
 
The Rock will be back in action 2 p.m. Tuesday at Salem International in a non-conference contest.


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