GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2022-23. This page will serve as the "Digital Game Program" for this week's game. To navigate to all gameday info for any SRU home events this year, simply visit rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the "Gameday Info" posters hanging in each facility.
 

Slippery Rock vs. California (Pa.)
The Rock (4-7-2)	Vulcans (3-8-1)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Kevin Wilhelm	Coach Emedin Sabic
Program Records	Program Records
Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team returns home to host Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competitor California (Pa.) 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday's game 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.
 
• Wednesday's forecast is currently calling for a chance for heavy rain. As such, any storms during the day may force current broadcast plans to be altered.
 
GAME 14 DETAILS
Opponent: California (Pa.)
Date: Wednesday – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 23-22-3
Last Played: Sept. 21, 2022 (Rock won 1-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. CALIFORNIA
The Rock hold a slight 23-22-3 edge over the Vulcans in the all-time series. Slippery Rock has only lost to California once in its last 12 matches. SRU is 14-10-2 when hosting the Vulcans.

LAST MEETING
Shaun Spencer scored the lone goal for The Rock to secure a 1-0 victory over California on the road Sept. 21, 2022. Hossam Aly recorded two saves over 90 minutes to preserve the shutout.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 4-7-2
PSAC West Record: 2-4-1
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 3-3-1
Away Record: 1-4-1
Last Five Games: 0-4-1
Streak: T1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Fifth season at SRU (24-37-8)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock played Pitt-Johnstown to a 2-2 draw on the road Oct. 15. Spencer and Alex Plimmer each netted goals for SRU while Luke Gildea and Patrick Phillips ended the contest with one assist apiece.
 
Aly made five saves over 87:41 while backup Adam Davies finished the contest not having to face a shot over final 2:19 of regulation in his second appearance of the year.
 
PAINTING THE POSTSEASON PICTURE
With three regular-season conference matches remaining, The Rock finds themselves in a must-win situation against the Vulcans, as they are fourth in the PSAC West standings with seven points.
 
Ahead of SRU in the standings are No. 2 Mercyhurst University (18) in first place followed by Seton Hill University (14) and Gannon University (14). The top three teams in the PSAC West and East standings at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
A loss Wednesday would officially eliminate SRU from postseason contention. Even with a victory, Slippery Rock still needs help from around the conference as wins by Seton Hill (vs. Mercyhurst) and Gannon (vs. Cal / Oct. 22) in their next respective contests would also end The Rock's postseason aspirations.   
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Rock enter Wednesday's contest 17-13-4 (.559) in matches held at James Egli Field under head coach Kevin Wilhelm. Through those 34 matches, SRU recorded 11 shutout victories and has held those opponents to no more than one goal in 21 games.
 
More specifically, Slippery Rock is 10-9 when hosting conference opponents during that timeframe and has outscored them by a slight +4 margin (29-25).
 
ON THE ATTACK
Arturo Pla Hernandis, Slippery Rock's leading scorer, continues to pace The Rock with 12 points on six goals. Pla Hernandis has scored in 46 percent (6-of-13) of SRU's contests this season. He also accounts for 33 percent (18-of-54) of Slippery Rock's shots on goal and has placed 50 percent (18-of-36) of his own total on target this year. 
 
On the season, SRU is 3-2-1 when Pla Hernandis scores a goal.
 
Rounding out multi-goal scorers this season are Spencer and Plimmer. Spencer has seven points on three goals and one assist while Plimmer totals six points on two goals and two assists.
 
Remaining Rock players to have netted a goal this season are Ramses Minaya with four points on one goal and two assists, Joe Skillicorn with three points on one goal and one assist and Max Murphy with one goal.
 
Gildea, Phillips, Topher Garcia and Nathan Kortyna all have dished out one assist this year.
 
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY STING LIKE A BEE
Slippery Rock starting goalkeeper Aly continues to rank among the leaders of the conference as he is first in saves per game (5.62), second in saves (73), sixth in save percentage (.753) and ninth in goals against average (1.87).
 
Over the last three contests, Aly and The Rock backline have proven tough over the final 45 minutes of contests as they have held their competition to just one second-half goal.
 
ROSTER FIRSTS
Phillips, with his assist at Pitt-Johnstown, became the fourth player this year to tally their first career point at The Rock as Garcia, Spencer and Murphy each had career first this season.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY CHECK
After already defeating the Vulcans once this season, a win Wednesday would move Wilhelm into a tie with Andy Hoggarth for eighth all-time in wins by an SRU men's soccer coach with 26.
 
With his five saves against UPJ, Aly is now 19th in career saves (127) as well as 11th in starts by a goalie (27), 14th in shutouts (5) and 19th in goalie wins (8).
 
Hillman is currently fifth on the list of consecutive starts by an SRU men's soccer player with 38.
 
PREVIOUSLY vs. CALIFORNIA
Minaya – 5 games: 1 assist
Pla Hernandis – 3 games: 1 goal, 1 assist
Plimmer – 3 games: 1 goal
Spencer – 1 game: 1 goal
Aly – 2 games (2-0): 5 saves, 1 goal allowed, 1 shutout
Derek Hoffman – 1 game (0-1): 1 save, 2 goals allowed
 
REMAINING REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Oct. 22 – 12 p.m. at Daemen College
Oct. 26 – 1 p.m. at Seton Hill
Oct. 29 – 12 p.m. vs Mercyhurst (Senior Day)
 
CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Overall Record: 3-8-1
PSAC West Record: 1-5-0
PSAC West Standings: Fifth
Home Record: 1-4-0
Away Record: 2-4-1
Last Five Games: 2-3-0
Streak: L2
Head Coach: Emedin Sabic | Ninth season at Cal (49-81-15)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Last time out: California suffered a 4-0 loss to PSAC West leader Mercyhurst Oct. 15 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
 
The Vulcan attack is led by Kobe Norfleet with six points this season on two goals and two assists. Aiding in the offensive efforts is Jake Nebinski with four points on one goal and two assists.
 
California goalkeepers Payton Smith and AJ Visco have split time this season. In seven starts, Smith claims a 2.47 GAA, .654 save percentage and 34 saves. Visco enters Wednesday with a 2.33 GAA, .577 save percentage and 15 saves over five starts.
 
In SRU and the Vulcans meeting earlier this season, Visco made two saves while allowing one goal over 90 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock steps out of conference competition for a final time when it travels to Amherst, New York to face Daemen College 12 p.m. Saturday.
 
 










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