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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will hit the road to open its 2018 season with a non-conference game at Tiffin University 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
 
MATCH DETAILS
Opponent: Tiffin University
Date: Thursday, Aug. 30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Paradiso Soccer Fields  |  Tiffin, Ohio
Live Stats: Link
Live Video: Link
Audio: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: The series is tied at 0-0-2
Last Played: Sept. 8, 2018 (The teams played to a 1-1 draw at Slippery Rock)
 
LAST MEETING
The Rock and the Dragons played to a 1-1 draw in a non-conference contest last season on September 8. Sean Tinney fed Kyle Boyer a pass scoring Slippery Rock's goal in the 30th minute. Tiffin eventually answered back in the 71st minute when Alexander Wagener received a pass from Charles Rolls and put it past the keeper. Neither team could take advantage in the rest of the contest resulting in the tie.
 
SERIES HISTORY
SRU and TU have only played twice and both games have resulted in a draw. Each contest played between the two opponents has been played at Slippery Rock. This will be the first time SRU will travel to Tiffin for a matchup.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
2017 Record: 5-10-3
2017 PSAC Record: 3-6-2
2017 Home Record: 1-4-2
2017 Away Record: 4-6-1
Last Five Games of 2017: 2-3-0
2018 Preseason Poll: Picked to finish 10th in the PSAC
Interim Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm  |  First Season at SRU (0-0-0)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• SEASON OPENERS – Slippery Rock has done quite well when opening its season. SRU is 44-27-5 all-time in season-openers. However, its last win to begin a season was back in 2015 when it defeated Malone, 2-1.
 
• RECENT SUCCESS – Despite missing the PSAC Tournament the last two seasons, Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst have alternated PSAC titles in the previous four years. The Rock and the Lakers have won a combined six league titles in the last 10 seasons, tallying three apiece.
 
• WELCOME BACK KEVIN – With the addition of interim head coach, Kevin Wilhelm, SRU brings a familiar face back to The Rock. Wilhelm was a former assistant coach under Matt Thompson for a total of five seasons over two stretches from 2002-03 and 2007-09. Wilhelm also played men's soccer for SRU helping them to a Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Soccer Conference title in 1994. He also earned both his master's and bachelor's degrees in sport management from The Rock in 2005 and 1998, respectively. 
 
• AN EXPERIENCED SENIOR CLASS – The Rock have a senior class that includes Kenton Keeslar, George Oakley, Anthony Werth, Justin Minda and Devin Hoffman. Keeslar, Oakley, Minda and Hoffman were each members of the 2015 PSAC Championship team. The group has combined to play in 218 games over the years.
 
• UNSELFISH PLAY – Oakley and Tinney combined for 12 assists last season and were two of the top three point scorers a year ago. Oakley, fresh off his first All-PSAC selection, was second on the roster in 2017 in points (10) on one goal and eight assists, while Tinney registered six points on one goal and four assists.
 
• KEESLAR ON DEFENSE – Keeslar will lead the defense in his senior season following an efficient 2017 campaign. He was the only Rock player to start all 18 games last year and earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors for his performance on the field and in the classroom.
 
• HUNSBERGER WATCH – Junior goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger is the only returning goalie from a season ago. In two seasons he is 1-1-0 with a 0.86 goals against average and a 0.778 save percentage while playing in six total games.
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Sept. 1 (1 p.m.) vs. Lake Erie
Sept. 4 (4 p.m.) vs. Salem
Sept. 8 (3 p.m.) at Ashland
Sept. 12 (4 p.m.) at District of Columbia
Sept. 15 (2:30 p.m.) vs. Cedarville
 
TIFFIN PRIMER
2017 Record: 8-7-3
2017 GLIAC Record: 6-4-2
Postseason: GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals
2017 Home Record: 4-3-2
2017 Away Record: 4-4-1
Last Five Games of 2017: 2-3-0
Preseason Poll: Picked to finish third in GMAC
Head Coach: Rudy Brownell  |  12th Season at TU (118-63-22)
 
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
•  Tiffin returns just five players who started in in at least 10 games a season ago including Omar Kamara, Darren Appanah, Kangni Gabianou, Charles Rolls and Cary Wilson.
 
• Kamara and Appanah combined for six points on three goals a season ago and will look to lead the offense.  
 
• Defensively, the Dragons tallied four shutouts and managed a 1.49 goals against average.
 
• Wilson started all 18 games in goal last season surrendering 28 goals while making 67 saves and registering a save percentage of 0.705.  
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will play its home opener in a non-conference tilt against Lake Erie 7 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.



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