SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will look to snap a five-game losing streak with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division win on the road against Pitt-Johnstown 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live in-game statistics will be provided by the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Information department at the links below.
 
GAME 13 DETAILS
Opponent: Pitt-Johnstown
Date: Saturday – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field – Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 36-10
Last Played: Sept. 17, 2022 (Rock won 4-1)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
The Rock hold a sizable 36-10 lead in the all-time series over UPJ dating back to 1971. Slippery Rock is 16-5 when traveling to Johnstown, Pennsylvania and has not lost on the road to the Mountain Cats since 1992.
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock produced its largest scoring output of the season in a 4-1 defeat of UPJ Sept. 17 at James Egli Field. The Rock's scoring efforts were led by Joe Skillicorn, Shaun Spencer, Arturo Pla Hernandis and Max Murphy each with a goal. Skilliorn, Spencer and Nathan Kortyna provided one assist apiece. Hossam Aly made four saves while allowing just one goal over 90 minutes.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 4-7-1
PSAC West Record: 2-4-0
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 3-3-1
Away Record: 1-4-0
Last Five Games: 0-5-0
Streak: L5
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Fifth season at SRU (24-37-7)

SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock fell, 1-0, to Gannon on the road Wednesday. Hossam Aly made six saves over 90 minutes while holding the Golden Knights to just one goal.
 
PSAC WEST STANDINGS UPDATE
While not a must-win game for The Rock, a win over the Mountain Cats would position SRU closer to making a final push towards the third position in the PSAC West standings. With four regular season conference matches remaining, Slippery Rock currently is fourth in the PSAC West with six points.
 
The top three teams in both the PSAC West and PSAC East standings at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Trailing SRU in the standings are California (3) and Pitt-Johnstown (0) while atop the division are Mercyhurst (15), Gannon (13) and Seton Hill (13).
 
THE ROCK OFFENSE
Continuing to lead The Rock's offense is Pla Hernandis, who is fifth in the conference in goal with six. Over 12 starts, Pla Hernandis has accounted for 36 percent (16-of-45) of The Rock's shots on goal.
 
Spencer is second for SRU in points with five on two goals and one assist while Alex Plimmer and Ramses Minaya each have four points on one goal and two assists. Skillicorn rounds out Rock multi-point scorers with three on one goal and one assist.
 
Murphy totals two points on one goal while Kortyna and Topher Garcia each have one assist.
 
HE'S A KEEPER
Backing the Slippery Rock defense is Aly, who enters Saturday's match first in the PSAC in saves per game (5.67), second in saves (68), seventh in save percentage (.756) and 10th in goals against average (1.85).
 
After three consecutive games allowing three goals, Aly and the SRU backline posted a solid showing against the Golden Knights, holding the Division II leading scorer Sergio Del Castillo to just one goal.
 
Over the last two contests, Slippery Rock's defense has been solid in the final 45 minutes of play allowing no second-half goals.
 
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
Accounting for The Rock's 45 shots on goal this season are Pla Hernandis (16), Plimmer (7), Minaya (5), Spencer (4), Skillicorn (3), Garcia (2), Murphy (2), Ryan John (1), Luke Gildea (1), Noel Williamson (1) and Rafal Wlodarczyk (1).
 
Pla Hernandis (33), Plimmer (21) and Minaya (12) are the only Rock players to have tallied double-digits in overall shots this season.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY CHECK
After already defeating UPJ once this season, a win Saturday would move head coach Kevin Wilhelm into a tie with Andy Hoggarth for eighth all-time in wins by an SRU men's soccer coach with 26.
 
For his career Aly is 11th in starts by a goalie (26), 14th in shutouts (5), 19th in goalie wins (8) and 20th in saves (122).
 
Hillman currently is tied for fifth on the list of consecutive starts by an SRU men's soccer player with 37. With at least five contests remaining this year, Hillman has the potential to end his career fifth.
 
PREVIOUSLY vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
Aly – 1 game (1-0): 4 saves, 1 goal allowed
Hillman – 5 games: 1 assist
Hoffman – 4 games (3-0): 12 saves, 5 goals allowed, 1 shutout
Kortyna – 5 games: 1 assist
Duncan McCoy – 1 game: 2 saves
Minaya – 5 games: 2 goals, 1 assist
Murphy – 1 game: 1 goal
Pla Hernandis – 3 games: 3 goals, 1 assist
Skillicorn – 3 games: 1 goal, 4 assists
Spencer – 1 game: 1 goal, 1 assist
Harry Griffin – 3 games: 1 goal
 
REMAINING REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Oct. 19 – 1 p.m. vs California (Pa.)
Oct. 22 – 12 p.m. at Daemen College
Oct. 26 – 1 p.m. at Seton Hill
Oct. 29 – 12 p.m. vs Mercyhurst
 
PITT-JOHNSTOWN PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 1-9-1
PSAC West Record: 0-6-0
PSAC West Standings: Sixth
Home Record: 1-5-1
Away Record: 0-4-0
Last Five Games: 0-5-0
Streak: L6
Head Coach: Eric Kinsey | 22nd season at UPJ (87-277-18)
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN CATS
Last time out: Pitt-Johnstown was defeated 3-1 by Seton Hill University Wednesday at Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field.
 
Evan Ulrich leads the UPJ offense with eight points on three goals and two assists. Rounding out Mountain Cat multi-goal scorers is Josh Sollars with five points on two goals and one assist.
 
Pitt-Johnstown starting goalkeeper PJ Derksen enters Saturday with a 2.09 GAA, .710 save percentage and 44 saves over nine starts.
 
In The Rock and UPJ's meeting earlier this season, Alexander Toto scored the Mountain Cats lone goal on a penalty kick while Derksen made five saves over 90 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home for a PSAC West match against California (Pa.) 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at James Egli Field. Earlier this season The Rock claimed a 1-0 win over the Vulcans at James Egli Field.
 










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