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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will travel to Seton Hill University for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division matchup 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
MATCH 12 DETAILS
Opponent: Seton Hill University
Date: Oct. 19 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Dick's Sporting Goods Field l Greensburg, Pa.
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Tied at 5-5-1
Last Played: Sept. 26, 2018 (0-0 draw at Seton Hill)
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock played No. 25 Seton Hill to a 0-0 draw on the road on Sept. 26, 2018. The contest was a defensive battle from the start with SRU defending five Seton Hill shots including four saves from Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger in the first half.
 
The Griffins matched the defensive effort from The Rock, turning away four Slippery Rock shots along with two corner kick chances before halftime.
 
The second half featured more of the same from the SRU defense, fighting off seven more Griffin shots with Hunsberger adding two more saves to his ledger. The Seton Hill defense held strong against The Rock offensive attack, knocking away three Slippery Rock shots including a save from Griffin keeper Austin Iddon to send the contest to overtime.
 
The SRU defense continued to stand the test of the potent Seton Hill offense, defending a shot 34 seconds into overtime on a clutch save by Hunsberger. SHU locked down on defense as well, forcing SRU into three off target shots to close out the period.
 
In the second overtime, Slippery Rock earned a corner kick chance but was unable to convert. Henrick Berg took the only shot of the half for Seton Hill, ultimately going wide and sealing a 0-0 draw between The Rock and Griffins.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock and Seton Hill are tied in the all-time series 5-5-1. Prior to the 0-0 draw in 2018, Seton Hill had won each of the last five matchups with SRU after Slippery Rock won five straight games from 2008-2012.
 
The Rock has outscored the Griffins 21-15 all-time and owns a 2-2-1 record on the road against Seton Hill.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 4-5-2
PSAC West Record: 1-2-0
PSAC West Standings: Sixth
Home Record: 2-1-1
Away Record: 2-4-1
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm l Second Season at SRU (10-15-4)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• LAST TIME OUT – Slippery Rock fell at home to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, 2-1. SRU opened the scoring when Alejandro Fernandez played a cross from Brian McCarthy into the goal for the early 1-0 advantage in the 12th minute.
 
UPJ evened the score when Evan Ulrich scored in the 53rd minute with Josh Briscoe providing the assist, tying the game at one apiece. Pitt-Johnstown grabbed the lead from Slippery Rock when Chase Kuhn scored in the 67th minute with Briscoe adding his second assist of the game, securing the 2-1 victory for the Mountain Cats.
 
• ONE GOAL GAMES – The 2-1 loss to Pitt-Johnstown marked the seventh game for SRU this season decided by one goal or less, marking the most for a Slippery Rock men's soccer team through 11 games since 2017.
 
• ON FIRE FERNANDEZ – Fernandez's score against Pitt-Johnstown marked the second-consecutive game he has netted a goal. The freshman now has four on the season, the most for a Slippery Rock freshman since Ryan Lutke scored four goals in 2012.
 
• KEEPER COUNT – Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger finished with four saves and two goals allowed against UPJ. On the season, Hunsberger has a .754 save percentage along with a 1.28 goals against average and 43 saves.
 
• PSAC LEADERS – Bangura ranks atop the conference leaders on offense, ranking second in shots on goal (25), tied for second in game-winning goals (3), third in total shots (37) along fourth in goals (6) and points (14).
 
Among goalkeepers in the PSAC, Hunsberger is third in shutouts (3), tied for third in saves (43) and fourth in save percentage .754.

As a team, Slippery Rock is third in the conference in goals scored with 22 while allowing 16 scores, the fifth best mark in the PSAC. 
 
• STANDINGS CHECK – Gannon sits atop the PSAC Western Division standings with nine points followed by Mercyhurst with seven points.

California is in third place (six points) with Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown tied for fourth place with four points each. Slippery Rock rounds out the division standings with three points.

At the end of the season, the top-three teams based on point total in both the PSAC West and PSAC East qualify for the conference tournament. 
 
• AGAINST SETON HILL – Hunsberger leads the way for Slippery Rock against Seton Hill having recorded a shutout against the No. 25 ranked Griffins last season with seven saves in 110 clean minutes for SRU.
 
• ROUNDING OUT THE ATTACK – Ramses Minaya and Anthony Werth are tied for third on the team in goals with three followed by Nick Sodini, Luke Picchi, Dan Schearer, Nick Iagnemma and Nathan Kortyna who round out the scoring attack for The Rock with one score each.
 
Sean Tinney has guided the SRU offense with three assists followed by Bangura, Fernandez, Minaya, Ale Okuma and Brian McCarthy who rank second with two assists each. Sodini, Picchi and Mo Kanani round out the assist leaders for Slippery Rock with one each.

START STRONG, FINISH BETTER - Slippery Rock has allowed just four goals in the first half this season, the fewest among all PSAC teams. In the second-half and overtime periods, SRU has a combined -1 scoring differential being outscored 11-10. 

CONSISTENCY IS KEY - Bangura, Fernandez, Werth, Hunsberger, Tinney and Hayden Seifert have started all 11 games for SRU in 2019 while Picchi has started all 10 games he's appeared in for The Rock. 
 
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Oct. 18, 2008 – Slippery Rock upsets No. 22 Davis & Elkins College on the road, 1-0. SRU got on the board when Patrick Conley scored off a corner kick from Toby Bowser in the 40th minute to give The Rock a 1-0 lead.
 
Slippery Rock goalkeeper Greg Blum turned in a stellar performance in goal, finishing with seven saves in 90 clean minutes securing the 1-0 upset victory for SRU.
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Oct. 23 (1:30 p.m.) vs Mercyhurst
Oct. 26 (2 p.m.) vs Seton Hill
Oct. 30 (4 p.m.) vs California (Pa.)
Nov. 2 (7:30 p.m.) at Mercyhurst
Nov. 6 (1 p.m.) at Pitt-Johnstown
 
SETON HILL PRIMER
Overall Record: 5-5-1
PSAC West Record: 1-2-1
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 2-2-1
Away Record: 3-3-0
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Dan McCarty l 16th Season at SHU (92-104-26)
 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFINS
• Last time out: Seton Hill dropped a 6-0 decision to No. 10 Gannon on the road, 6-0. The Golden Knights opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a goal from Ivan Manfredi.
 
Alex Lee Yaw scored his seventh goal of the season in the 50th minute followed by James Randall at the 65:15 mark to extend the GU lead to 3-0. The offensive outburst continued when Ben Andrews netted his fourth score of the season in the 74th minute to extend the Gannon advantage to 4-0.
 
Layton Bingham continued the offensive onslaught for Gannon in the 79th minute, recording his first goal of 2019. Joe Knox put a cap on a 6-0 win for GU on an assist by Sergio Del Castillo for his second score of 2019.
 
• Archie Lock leads the way for Seton Hill on offense with a team-high six goals, 12 points, 34 total shots and 16 shots on goal. Daniel Van Gorp is second for Seton Hill in goals with four and points with eight. Nick Desantis has guided the Griffin offense with a team best two assists.
 
• Austin Iddon has started 11 games in goal for Seton Hill this season, recording a .714 save percentage along with 1.26 goals against average and 35 saves.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home to host Mercyhurst University for a PSAC Western Division matchup at James Egli Field 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23rd. 


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