JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team secured a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament berth for the first time since 2015 with a 3-0 victory over the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Wednesday afternoon.
 
With the win, SRU improves to 8-7-2 overall with a 4-4-0 record in the PSAC Western Division. Pitt-Johnstown falls to 2-11-1 with a 1-7-1 mark in division play.

Slippery Rock, who can finish no worse than third place in the PSAC Western Division standings, return to the postseason for the first time since winning the conference championship in 2015.
 
The 3-0 victory over UPJ also marks the eighth win of the season for SRU, the most wins in a season for a Rock men's soccer team since winning 14 games during the 2015 season.
 
Slippery Rock opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Abdallah Bangura played a rebound off a Luke Picchi shot into the back of the net for his team-leading seventh score of the season, giving SRU the early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Rock added to their lead 10 minutes later when Brian McCarthy scored his first collegiate goal off of his own corner kick attempt to extend the Slippery Rock lead to 2-0. With the score, McCarthy became the fourth Rock men's soccer player this season to record their first career collegiate goal.
 
SRU secured a 3-0 playoff-clinching victory in the 59th minute when Picchi netted a rebound off a shot by Bangura for the senior's second goal of the season.
 
Slippery Rock goalkeeper Matt Hunsberger recorded one save before being relieved by freshman keeper Derek Hoffman in the 75th minute, splitting duty in what was the eighth shutout victory for SRU this season and the fourth in the last five games.
 
The eight combined shutouts this season are the most for an SRU men's soccer since accomplishing the feat in 2015.
 
With a playoff berth locked in, a scenario exists where Slippery Rock could climb into the No. 2 seed in the PSAC Western Division standings.
 
Should SRU defeat Gannon University on Saturday and Mercyhurst University falls to both Gannon and California University (Pa.), The Rock would claim the second-seed in the PSAC West.

At the end of the season, the top-three teams based on point total in the PSAC West and PSAC East will advance to the conference tournament. 
 
Slippery Rock will conclude the 2019 regular season when it hosts No. 5 Gannon for Senior Day 12 p.m. Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
GAME NOTES
• With three goals scored against UPJ, Slippery Rock has scored 28 goals this season, the most for a Rock men's soccer team since scoring 40 in 2015.
 
• SRU has won four of its last five games for the first time since the 2015 season. The win also breaks a streak of four-straight years of having a losing record at the end of the regular season.
 
• The 3-0 win over Pitt-Johnstown marks the fifth game this season Slippery Rock has scored two or more goals in a game, the most since accomplishing the feat six times in 2016.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GOAL: ROCK 1, UPJ 0 '26; Abdallah Bangura (Unassisted)
GOAL: ROCK 2, UPJ 0 '36; Brian McCarthy (Unassisted)
GOAL: ROCK 3, UPJ 0 '59; Luke Picchi (Unassisted)


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