SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team steps out of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play one final time this season for a non-conference road match at Daemen University 12 p.m. Saturday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics will be provided by the Daemen Athletic Communication department at the links below.
 
GAME 15 DETAILS
Opponent: Daemen University
Date: Saturday – 12 p.m.
Location: Karrer Field – Amherst, N.Y.
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 3-0
Last Played: Sept. 11, 2021 (Rock won 1-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs. DAEMEN
Slippery Rock holds a perfect 3-0 lead in the all-time series over Daemen. The Rock have only allowed the Wildcats to score one total goal in those three meetings.
 
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock defeated Daemen 1-0 on Sept. 11, 2021 at James Egli Field. Mo Kanani netted the game-winning goal on an assist by Brian McCarthy. Hossam Aly made four saves over 90 minutes to preserve the shutout win.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 5-7-2
PSAC West Record: 3-4-1
PSAC West Standings: Fourth
Home Record: 4-3-1
Away Record: 1-4-1
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Fifth season at SRU (25-37-8)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock claimed a commanding 5-0 win over California (Pa.) Wednesday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Four different players accounted for SRU's five goals. Arturo Pla Hernandis led the charge with two goals while Ramses Minaya, Shaun Spencer and Alex Plimmer all tallied a score apiece. Minaya, Harry Griffin and Joe Skillicorn each finished the match with an assist.
 
Adam Davies earned the shutout win after making five saves over 90 minutes.
 
SCORING SURGE
The Rock's five goals against the Vulcans marked their highest goal output of the 2022 season. Slippery Rock has now had three consecutive seasons having at least one match where it has scored five or more goals. SRU won 6-2 over Pitt-Johnstown in 2021 and claimed a 7-0 victory against Shepherd University in 2019.
 
DAVIES' DOMINANT DEBUT
In his first career start for The Rock, Davies maintained SRU's 5-0 shutout victory after making five saves over 90 minutes in place of Aly, SRU's normal starter.
 
ARTURO THE ACE
Pla Hernandis continues a solid sophomore campaign. In the conference he is now tied for fourth in goals (8) and tied for in seventh in points (16).
 
He has matched Abdallah Bangura from the 2019 roster for the fourth highest single-season point total over the last seven seasons. During 2015 Matt Sangermano (20), Ryan Lutke (18) and Peter Boylan (17) recorded the top three totals in the time frame.
 
After a two-goal showing against California Wednesday, Pla Hernandis is now the first SRU men's soccer player to net two goals in one game this year. Additionally, he has scored at least one goal in 50 percent (7-of-14) of The Rock's matches this season.
 
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
Pla Hernandis paces the Slippery Rock offense with a team-high 16 points on eight goals. Spencer has tallied nine points on four goals and one assist and is currently on a two-game scoring streak.
 
The senior duo Plimmer and Minaya are fourth and fifth on the SRU offense with eight and seven points, respectively. Plimmer has three goals and two assists while Minaya has two goals and three assists.
 
Remaining goal scorers for The Rock are Skillicon and Max Murphy with one each while Skillicorn has also tallied two assists.
 
Rounding out Slippery Rock's offense is Griffin, Luke Gildea, Nathan Kortyna and Patrick Phillips all with one assist each.
 
ROCK SOLID DEFENSE
After a three-game run of allowing its opponents to score three goals in consecutive matches against Mercyhurst (Sept. 30), Roberts Wesleyan (Oct. 4) and Seton Hill (Oct. 8), The Rock defense has now only surrendered three total goals over its most recent three games.
 
Additionally, SRU's backline prompted its fifth contest this year allowing its opponent to no more than 10 total shots.
 
Aiding in a tough Slippery Rock defense is Aly who is first in the PSAC in saves per game (5.62), second in saves (73), sixth in save percentage (.753) and ninth in goals against average (1.87).
 
PROGRAM HISTORY UPDATE
Following Wednesday's win, head coach Kevin Wilhelm tied Andy Hoggarth for eighth all-time in wins by an SRU men's soccer coach with 25.
 
PREVIOUSLY vs. DAEMEN
Aly – 1 game (1-0): 4 saves, 1 shutout
 
REMAINING REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Oct. 26 – 1 p.m. at Seton Hill
Oct. 29 – 12 p.m. vs Mercyhurst (Senior Day)
 
DAEMEN PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 5-6-3
ECC Record: 2-3-1
ECC Standings: Sixth
Home Record: 3-1-3
Away Record: 2-5
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: T1
Head Coach: Bediako Swan | Fourth season at DU (13-36-3)
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Last time out: Daemen battled PSAC East member Lock Haven University to a 1-1 draw Wednesday.
 
The Wildcat offense is paced by Derek Bartlo with a team-high 18 points on seven goals and four assists. Also aiding in the offensive attack is Cody Cavuoto with eight points on four goals.
 
Starting goalkeeper Marcos Lerma Escobar carries a 1.71 GAA, .767 save percentage and 66 saves into Saturday's match.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock remains on the road for a must-win PSAC West contest at Seton Hill University 1 p.m. Oct. 26. Earlier this season, SRU fell to the Griffins 3-1 at James Egli Field.
 
 
 






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