SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team scored three unanswered goals to pull away for a 3-1 victory over Lock Haven University Friday afternoon in its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game of the year.
 
The Rock (3-3-1, 1-0-0 PSAC) trailed 1-0 after Beckham Sibiski scored for Lock Haven (4-3-1, 2-1-0 PSAC) in the 12th minute, but quickly evened the game when freshman Omar Bangura scored his first career goal off a free kick from George Oakley in the 18th minute to tie it at 1-1.
 
Slippery Rock would push the advantage out to 2-1 by halftime after Cory Olix scored his first career goal in the 38th minute after taking a feed from Hayden Seifert.
 
Lock Haven posted a 6-4 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks in the opening half, but SRU keeper Matt Hunsberger made three saves and SRU capitalized on two of its three shots on target to head to the break with a one-goal cushion.
 
Luke Picchi added his team-leading third goal of the season in the 57th minute off an assist from Bangura to provide all the insurance SRU would need. Hunsberger was forced to make just one save in the second half to preserve the victory.
 
Slippery Rock finished the game with an 11-10 edge in total shots, while Lock Haven managed a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. Hunsberger finished the game with four saves to earn his third victory of the year, while LHU keeper Camden Cook made five saves in the loss.
 
Bangura led the SRU attack all day and finished with three shots, one goal and one assist.
 
After starting the year 0-2, Slippery Rock has bounced back and posted a 3-1-1 record over its last five games and is now 3-1-0 at home under first-year interim head coach Kevin Wilhelm.
 
The Rock will look to carry their momentum from Friday's win into a second straight PSAC game when they travel to Gannon University Sunday for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
 

  
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