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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will travel to California University of Pennsylvania to open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
 
MATCH EIGHT DETAILS
Opponent: California University of Pennsylvania
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Phillipsburg Soccer Facility l California, Pa.
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: California leads 21-19-3
Last Played: Oct. 14, 2018 (Slippery Rock won at home, 1-0)
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock defeated Cal U. at home, 1-0. The Rock outshot the Vulcans 15-6 in the contest while allowing only three shots on goal.
 
The Rock scored the only goal in the contest in the 32nd minute when Alexander Vilchek scored on a chipped pass from Hector Buchter, securing the victory for SRU.
 
Slippery Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger recorded three saves in the fifth shutout of the season for the junior.
 
SERIES HISTORY
California leads the all-time series 21-19-3. Slippery Rock has won each of the last two matchups against Cal U. along with a 6-0-1 record over the last seven games with the Vulcans.
 
The Rock won its last road matchup against the Vulcans in 2017, 4-0 after having a 3-6-1 record over the previous ten road games against California.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 3-3-1
PSAC West Record: 0-0-0
Home Record: 2-0-0
Away Record: 1-3-1
Last Five Games: 3-2-0
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm l Second Season at Slippery Rock (9-13-3)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• LAST TIME OUT – Slippery Rock fell to Salem, 2-1 on the road. Anthony Werth netted his second goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 49th minute to give SRU a 1-0 lead.
 
Salem answered back with a goal from Andrea Morelli in the 77th minute to tie the score at one apiece and send the contest to overtime.
 
Just under two minutes into the first overtime period Salem was awarded a penalty kick that Morelli would convert to give the Tigers a 2-1 victory at the 91:53 mark.

• PSAC OPENERS - Slippery Rock has a 44-19-3 record all-time in PSAC openers. Over its last five conference openers, SRU has a 4-0-1 record. 

• MULTI-SHOT PERFORMANCES – Rock sophomore midfielder Abdallah Bangura recorded three shots against Salem, marking the seventh-consecutive contest that Bangura has finished with two or more shots. Bangura leads SRU this season in goals (5), points (11), total shots (22) and shots on goal (15).
 
• KEEPER COUNT – Hunsberger finished last week with a 1-1-0 record including a 1-0 shutout victory over Lock Haven. The senior recorded a combined nine saves and two goals allowed in 90 minutes played against LHU and 91:53 minutes against Salem. The senior has 25 saves with a .758 save percentage and a 1.21 goals against average through seven games this season. 
 
• CONSISTENCY IS KEY – Slippery Rock has scored at least one goal in six of seven games this season. The last time SRU scored a goal in at least six of its first seven contests to start a season was in 2015.
 
• ROUNDING OUT THE ATTACK – Sean Tinney leads Slippery Rock in assists (3) with Ale Okuma ranking second (2). Ramses Minaya and Alejandro Fernandez are tied for second in points (5) for SRU while the pair is tied for second in goals (2) along with Werth. Nick Sodini, Luke Picchi, Dan Schearer and Nick Iagnemma round out the scoring attack for The Rock this season with one goal apiece. 
 
• AGAINST CALIFONRIA – Vilchek and Tinney have both scored goals against California in previous seasons. Tinney netted his first goal of the 2017 season in a 4-0 Rock win over Cal U. while Vilchek netted his third score of 2018 in a 1-0 SRU victory over the Vulcans.
 
• PSAC LEADERS – Bangura ranks first in the PSAC in shots on goal per game (2.14), second in total shots per game (3.14) and tied for second in goals while Tinney is tied for third in assists (3). Hunsberger is third among conference goalkeepers in total saves with 25 on the season.
 
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
• Oct. 6, 1956 – Legendary Rock men's soccer head coach James Egli records his first career coaching victory. Egli holds the record for most wins all-time by a Rock men's soccer coach with 253.

• Oct. 8, 2010 – Greg Blum breaks the SRU record for goalie wins with his 48th career victory in a 2-1 overtime win over Ashland, the senior finished with nine saves in 96:25 minutes played. 
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Oct. 9 (3 p.m.) at Gannon
Oct. 12 (1 p.m.) vs Shippensburg
Oct. 16 (4 p.m.) vs Pitt-Johnstown
Oct. 19 (1:30 p.m.) at Seton Hill
Oct. 23 (1:30 p.m.) vs Mercyhurst
 
CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Overall Record: 1-3-1
PSAC West Record: 0-0-1
Home Record: 1-2-1
Away Record: 0-1-0
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: T1
Head Coach: Emedin Sabic l Seventh Season (38-59-10)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
• Last time out: California recorded a 1-1 draw at home against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
 
The Vulcans got on the board when Marcos Garcia netted his first goal of the season in the 29th minute on a feed from Jacob Schwien giving Cal U. a 1-0 lead.
 
Pitt-Johnstown struck back when Alex Kochey scored in the 60th minute with Josh Briscoe providing the assist to tie the game at one apiece.
 
Neither team could convert on scoring chances through two overtime periods, leading to a 1-1 draw.
 
• The California offense is led by Eli Mitchell who has a team-leading four points on two goals. Jake Nebinski ranks second for the Vulcans with three points on a goal and assist along with a team-best 10 shots.
 
• In goal for the Vulcans this season, Joseph Valeriano has 11 saves along with a .550 save percentage and 1.91 goals averaged against.
 
UP NEXT
SRU continues its road trip as it travels to Gannon University for a PSAC West matchup 3 p.m. Oct. 9.


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