CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Abdallah Bangura scored in the 49th minute and Anthony Werth added a penalty kick score at 85:00 in a 2-0 road victory for the Slippery Rock University men's soccer team against California University of Pennsylvania Wednesday evening.
 
The win, which was Slippery Rock's third in the last four games, improves SRU's record to 4-3-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. California falls to 1-4-1 overall on the season with a 0-1-1 mark in conference play.
 
Defense dominated the first half for both teams as The Rock allowed only three shots to the Vulcan offense while Cal U. successfully defended one shot from the SRU offense.
 
The Slippery Rock offense came alive in the second half when Bangura scored his team-leading sixth goal of 2019 with Ramses Minaya providing the assist, giving SRU the 1-0 advantage. The score occured when Minaya chipped a pass into the middle of the Cal U. zone allowing Bangura to make a sliding shot that beat goalkeeper Joseph Valeriano.
 
The SRU defense continued to harass the California offense, as it allowed just one shot on goal in the second half, an attempt that was easily stopped by Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger for his lone save of the night.
 
The Rock secured a 2-0 victory when Werth converted on a penalty kick in the 86th minute for his third goal of the season en route to the shutout. 
 
As a team, Cal U. held the edge in total shots (8-7) and corner kicks (3-2) while Slippery Rock gained the advantage in shots on goal (4-1).
 
Hunsberger finished the game with one save in 90 clean minutes for The Rock in goal, earning the senior his third solo-shutout of 2019.

Bangura concluded the day with two shots on goal with Werth, Alejandro Fernandez and Luke Picchi each adding one attempt on target as well. Minaya's assist was his second of the season which ranks second on the team.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action when it travels to Gannon University for a PSAC Western Division road matchup 3 p.m. Oct. 9.
 
GAME NOTES
• Slippery Rock now owns a 2-1-2 record over its last five PSAC openers.
 
• The Rock's 4-3-1 record through the first eight games of the season marks the best start for an SRU men's soccer team since 2015.
 
• SRU's 17 goals scored through eight games are the most it has scored in an eight-game stretch to begin a season since 2013.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: ROCK 1, CAL U. 0; Abdallah Bangura (Ramses Minaya)
GOAL: ROCK 2, CAL U. 0; Anthony Werth (Penalty Kick)


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