SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Alejandro Fernandez and Ramses Minaya scored consecutive goals in the first half, but Shippensburg University stormed back in the second half leading to a 2-2 draw Saturday at James Egli Field.
 
With the draw, Slippery Rock moves to 4-4-2 overall while Shippensburg now sits at 1-5-2 this season.
 
The Rock was led on offense by Fernandez who finished with his third goal of the season and an assist. Minaya added a goal in the 36th minute on a double assist from Fernandez and Mo Kanani.  

Abdallah Bangura added an assist and a team-high six shots while Sean Tinney produced five shots. Bangura's assist increased his team-leading point total to 14. 
 
The Slippery Rock offense put instant pressure on the Shippensburg defense, recording four shots and a corner kick within the first 13 minutes of the contest. SRU converted in the 15th minute when Fernandez scored on a pass from Bangura, giving The Rock an early 1-0 lead.
 
SRU continued to pressure Shippensburg on offense, pushing the pace with another two shots and a corner before stretching its lead to 2-0 when Fernandez sent a free kick to Kanani who tipped a pass to Minaya who in turn played it into the goal for his third score of the season. 
 
The Rock defense turned in a stellar first-half performance, led by goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger who finished with five saves to secure The Rock's 2-0 halftime lead. 
 
The Raider offense came alive in the second half, recording four shots and a corner before finally converting in the 80th minute when Julian Horstmann scored an unassisted goal, cutting the SRU advantage to 2-1.
 
Shippensburg tied the contest just four minutes later when Seth Crabbe netted his third goal of the season. Despite a late effort by the SRU offense in which it recorded the final three shots of the half, the contest went into overtime. 
 
Both defenses stood the test in the first overtime period, with Slippery Rock defending two Raider corners along with two shots while The Rock recorded only one shot to maintain the 2-2 tie.
 
Slippery Rock opened the second overtime with three-straight shots and a corner, but were unable to penetrate the stout Shippensburg defense. The Raiders finished the contest with a corner kick chance in the 105th minute, but it was stifled by the SRU defense as the game finished in a 2-2 draw. 
 
The Rock held advantages over Shippensburg in total shots (23-16) and corner kicks (12-8) while the two teams tied for the lead in shots on goal (11).
 
Hunsberger recorded nine saves in 110 minutes played for SRU while Bradley Brickman finished with eight saves on the afternoon.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action when it hosts the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division matchup 4 p.m. Wednesday at James Egli Field. 
 
GAME NOTES
•  The tie is the second of the season for Slippery Rock, marking the fourth consecutive season Slippery Rock has finished with two or more draws.
 
•  Fernandez and Minaya each recorded their third goals of the season on Saturday, marking the first time a Slippery Rock freshman has recorded three or more goals in a season since Ryan Lutke in 2012.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: ROCK 1, SHIP 0; Alejandro Fernandez (Abdallah Bangura)
GOAL: ROCK 2, SHIP 0; Ramses Minaya (Alejandro Fernandez, Mo Kanani)
GOAL: ROCK 2, SHIP 1; Julian Horstmann (Unassisted)
GOAL: ROCK 2, SHIP 2; Seth Crabbe (Unassisted)
 
 

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