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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will play its third-straight away match when it travels to California University (Pa.) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division contest 5 p.m. Wednesday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics are being provided by the California University (Pa.) Athletic Communication Department at the links below
 
MATCH 15 DETAILS
Opponent: California University (Pa.)
Date: Oct. 27 – 5 p.m.
Location: Phillipsburg Soccer Facility
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 22-21-3
Last Played: Sept. 29, 2021 (Rock won, 3-1)
 
LAST MEETING: The Rock overcame a one-goal deficit on the to way to a 3-1 victory over Cal U earlier this season on Sept. 29 at James Egli Field.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Slippery Rock holds a slight 22-21-3 lead in the all-time series with the Vulcans dating back to 1984. The Rock has won the last five meetings against Cal.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 5-7-2
PSAC West Record: 2-4-0
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 2-3-2
Away Record: 3-4-0
Streak: L3
Last Five Matches: 4-1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Fourth year at SRU (19-27-6)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT: SRU suffered a narrow, 1-0, double overtime loss at Seton Hill Oct. 23.
 
PSAC STANDINGS CHECK: Slippery Rock currently ranks fourth in the PSAC West standings with six points, four points behind third-place Mercyhurst. The top three teams in the PSAC East and PSAC West standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
With four games remaining in the season, a win against Cal U is key for The Rock's hopes to stay within striking distance of Mercyhurst, who plays Seton Hill University, as the Lakers and Rock battle for the final conference tournament bid out of the Western Division.
 
ON THE ROAD: Of SRU's three road wins this season, two have been shutout victories while their 6-2 victory over UPJ marked the third highest single-game scoring output dating back to 2016.
 
AGAINST CAL U: In previous meetings with the Vulcans, Mo Kanani has collected two goals along with Arturo Pla Hernandis and Alex Plimmer with a goal each, rounded out by Anthony Gagliardi II with a pair of assists and Brian McCarthy and Ramses Minaya who have both produced assists in shutout victories.
 
SUCCESSFUL SECOND HALVES: The Rock has found success in the second half of play scoring 14 of its 21 goals in the second period, as well as outscoring its opponents 14-9.
 
OFFENSIVE ATTACK: The Slippery Rock scoring efforts are backed by nine different players that have tallied at least one goal this season in Kanani (5), Minaya (4), Alejandro Fernandez (3) and Pla Hernandis (3), Plimmer (2) as well as Luke Gildea, Harry Griffin, Joey Moeller and Dan Shearer all with one goal each.  
 
ROUNDING OUT THE ATTACK: Rock players who have assisted on at least one goal this season include Gagliardi II with six, who lands second in the PSAC West in assists, followed by Fernandez and McCarthy with three each and rounded out by Pla Hernandis and Minaya with two apiece and Joe Skillicorn with one.
 
KEEPER COUNT: Goalkeeper Hossam Aly (4-5-2) has collected 45 saves with a .726 save percentage and 1.46 goals against average. Aly currently ranks third in the PSAC West in saves as well as save percentage.
 
In four appearances this season (259:30), Derek Hoffman has tallied 11 saves with a .688 save percentage and 1.73 GAA.
 
FIRST STARTS IN THE BOOK: Two Rock players were rewarded with their first start of the season as Skillicorn and Will Harrigan both earned a start in SRU's last match at Seton Hill.
 
THIS WEEK IN ROCK HISTORY
Oct. 25, 2008 - SRU overcomes two-goal deficit to beat Gannon, 5-4.
Oct. 25 , 2008 - Toby Bowser ties program record with four assists at Gannon.
Oct. 27, 2010 - SRU upsets #7 Mercyhurst 4-3 behind a Michael Ramirez hat trick.
Oct. 29 , 1975 - Art Rex totals program record 13 points by scoring 6 goals and tallying 1 assist vs. Geneva.
Oct. 30, 2013  - Dom Francis scores goal with eight seconds left in regulation to beat Millersville 4-3. It was the latest game-winning goal for SRU since 2005.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Oct. 30 (1 p.m.) vs. Mercyhurst *Senior Day
Nov. 3 (1 p.m.) vs. Pitt-Johnstown
Nov. 6 (3:30 p.m.) at Gannon
 
CALIFORNIA (PA) PRIMER
Overall Record: 2-8-2
PSAC West Record: 1-4-1
PSAC West Standings: Fifth
Home Record: 1-4-2
Away Record: 1-4-0
Streak: L1
Last Five Matches: 1-3-1
Head Coach: Emedin Sabic | Ninth year at Cal U (44-71-14)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Last time out: Cal fell, 1-0, on the road to No. 18 Gannon University Oct. 23.
 
The Vulcan offense is led by Evan Blunkosky with three goals, he is accompanied by Negus Johnson and Zach Vanek with two goals each. Blunkosky scored California's lone goal against The Rock earlier in the season.
 
Goalkeeper Trevor Zabilowicz has made 42 saves with a .646 save percentage and 2.20 GAA in 11 starts for the Vulcan defense.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home for its Senior Day match against Mercyhurst University 1 p.m. Saturday at James Egli Field.



To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics), Instagram (RockAthletics) and Snapchat (@RockAthletics).