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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will host California University of Pennsylvania for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division contest at 4 p.m. Wednesday at James Egli Field. 
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday's match live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
 
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
 
MATCH 15 DETAILS
Opponent: California University (Pa.)
Date: Oct. 30 – 4 p.m.
Location: James Egli Field l Slippery Rock, Pa.
Watch: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: California leads 21-20-3
Last Played: Oct. 2, 2019 (Slippery Rock won on the road, 2-0)
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock defeated Cal U. in California, Pa., 2-0 on Oct. 2. SRU opened the scoring in the 49th minute when Abdallah Bangura netted a goal with Ramses Minaya providing the assist to give SRU the 1-0 advantage.
 
Slippery Rock added to its lead when Anthony Werth lined a penalty kick shot through the Vulcan defense and into the goal to give The Rock a 2-0 lead in the 85th minute.
 
The SRU defense secured the 2-0 victory over California, allowing only eight total shots with one being on goal.
 
SERIES HISTORY
California leads the all-time series 21-20-3. SRU has won each of the last three matchups against the Vulcans including a 2-0 road victory earlier this season.
 
The Rock owns a 12-10-2 record against Cal U. at home all-time, outscoring California 10-4 over the last five home matchups.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 6-6-2
PSAC West Record: 3-3-0
PSAC West Standings: Third
Home Record: 4-1-1
Away Record: 2-5-1
Last Five Games: 2-2-1
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm l Second Season at SRU (12-16-4)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• LAST TIME OUT – Slippery Rock defeated Seton Hill University at home, 1-0. SRU opened the scoring in the 44th minute when Mo Kanani played a free kick pass from Brian McCarthy through the Griffin defense and into the goal for his second score in as many games, giving The Rock a 1-0 advantage.
 
Following the score, a stellar defensive effort from Slippery Rock ensued, allowing only five second-half shots and four corner kick attempts. Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger led the way for SRU on defense with five saves.
 
A pair of corner kick attempts at the 80:25 and 80:53 mark by Seton Hill were turned away by Slippery Rock to secure the 1-0 conference win for SRU.
 
• PLAYOFF PUSH – Gannon University sits atop the PSAC Western Division standings with 15 points followed by Mercyhurst University with 10 points.
 
Slippery Rock (nine points) moved into third place with the win over Seton Hill who is now in fourth place with seven points. California sits in fifth place with six points followed by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown who rounds out the division standings with four points.
 
At the end of the season, the top-three teams in the PSAC West and PSAC East based on point total qualify for the conference tournament.
 
If Slippery Rock were to qualify for the conference tournament, it would mark The Rock's first tournament appearance since winning the league championship in 2015.
 
• GAME-WINNER – Kanani secured the 1-0 victory over Seton Hill with the game-winning goal in the 44th minute. The goal marked the second-consecutive contest the sophomore recorded the game-winner for SRU.
 
On the season, Kanani ranks fourth for The Rock in goals with two while his five points are fifth most for Slippery Rock this season. The two-game winning goals led to Kanani being named PSAC West Athlete of the Week. 
 
• BACK-TO-BACK – Hunsberger followed his career-best 14 save performance against Mercyhurst with his second-consecutive shutout in the win over SHU, recording five saves. The two back-to-back shutout performances led to Hunsberger being named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week for the third time in his career. 
 
On the season, Hunsberger has a .816 save percentage along with a 1.08 goals against average and 62 saves. 
 
• ROCK SOLID DEFENSE – The Slippery Rock defense added to its stellar season with back-to-back shutout performances against Mercyhurst and Seton Hill. On the season, SRU has six shutout victories, tied with Gannon for the second-most in the PSAC behind West Chester University with seven.
 
• PSAC LEADERS – Bangura is tied for first in the conference in game-winning goals with three along with ranking second in shots on goal with 29 and fourth in total shots at 46.
 
Among PSAC goalkeepers, Hunsberger is second in save percentage along with tied for third in shutouts and fourth in goals against average.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock is one of seven teams in the conference to have a positive scoring differential (+0.28) while ranking tied for third in goals scored (28) and tied for sixth in goals allowed at 23.
 
• ONE-GOAL GAMES – After opening the season with a 2-5-2 record in one-goal games, SRU has won two-straight contests decided by a goal with a pair of 1-0 victories over Mercyhurst and Seton Hill.
 
• DEFEND YOUR DIRT – Through six games at home this season, SRU has a 4-1-1 record while outscoring opponents 16-4 in contests on their home turf.
 
The 4-1-1 record marks the best home record for Slippery Rock through six home games since starting 5-1-0 in 2015.
 
• STEP FORWARD – 2019 has been a season of progress for the SRU men's soccer team. The Rock's 6-6-2 overall record is the best 14 game mark for The Rock since 9-5-0 in 2015.
 
• AGAINST CALIFORNIA – Bangura, Werth, Sean Tinney and Alexander Vilchek lead the way for SRU with one goal each in their career's against the Vulcans.
 
Hunsberger has two shutout victories in two career starts against Cal U. including a one-save shutout earlier this season.
 
• ROUNDING OUT THE ATTACK – Bangura leads the way for Slippery Rock with 14 points on a team-leading six goals and two assists while Minaya and Werth are tied for third in goals for Slippery Rock this season with three each.

Kanani is next with two scores in 2019 followed by Nick Sodini, Luke Picchi, Nathan Kortyna, Dan Schearer and Nick Iagnemma round out the scoring attack for SRU with one goal apiece this year.
 
McCarthy and Tinney have guided The Rock offense with three assists this season while Ale Okuma, Bangura, Fernandez and Minaya each have two. Kanani, Sodini and Picchi round out the assist leaders for SRU with one each in 2019.
 
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
• Oct. 31, 2015 – Slippery Rock scores a program record seven goals against Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Matt Sangermano finished with a hat trick scoring in the 21st, 38th and 62nd minute while Peter Boylan, Josh Allman, Bevan Bish and Mike Ilodigwe each added one goal apiece.
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Nov. 2 (7:30 p.m.) at Mercyhurst
Nov. 6 (1 p.m.) at Pitt-Johnstown
Nov. 9 (12 p.m.) vs Gannon
 
CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Overall Record: 3-5-3
PSAC West Record: 1-2-3
PSAC West Standings: Fifth
Home Record: 1-4-1
Away Record: 2-1-2
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Emedin Sabic l Seventh Season at California (40-61-12)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
• Last time out: California fell to No. 8 Gannon at home, 2-0. The Golden Knights opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when Ben Andrews netted his fifth goal of the season to give GU a 1-0 lead.
 
Gannon secured the 2-0 victory when Sergio Del Castillo played a pass from Tinashe Katsande for his fourth goal of the season. Chandler Hallwood recorded two saves en route to his sixth shutout performance of 2019.
 
• California is led on offense by Eli Mitchell who has a team-high nine points on four goals and one assist. Matt Yingling is second for Cal U. with seven points on two goals and a team-best three assists.
 
• In goal for California, Joseph Valeriano has a .750 save percentage along with a 1.43 goals against average and 48 saves.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock hits the road to take on Mercyhurst in a PSAC Western Division contest 7:30 p.m. Saturday.


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