SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition with a 4-1 victory over Pitt-Johnstown Saturday at James Egli Field.
 
The win improves SRU's record to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference while UPJ falls to 0-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC West.
 
The victory extends Slippery Rock's unbeaten streak at home to four, which is the longest since the 2015 season, while its four goals mark its highest goal output of the 2022 season. Slippery Rock is now 3-1 in PSAC West home openers since Kevin Wilhelm's inaugural season in 2018.
 
The Rock's scoring efforts were compiled off the feet of Joe Skillicorn, Shaun Spencer, Arturo Pla Hernandis and Max Murphy each with a goal. Skilliorn, Spencer and Nathan Kortyna provided one assist apiece.
 
Saturday's scores were the first of the season for Skillicorn, Spencer and Murphy while Pla Hernandis collected his fourth goal of the year.
 
Goalkeeper Hossam Aly made four saves while allowing just one goal over 90 minutes of action.
 
SRU and UPJ played a scoreless first half in which The Rock outshot the Mountain Cats (9-3) all the while not allowing a single corner by Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Coming out of the break Skillicorn opened the scoring splurge in the 62nd minute with a nicely placed shot following a great cross pass from Kortyna.
 
Slippery Rock was awarded a penalty kick six minutes later that Spencer beat Mountain Cat goalkeeper PJ Derksen on to extend the lead to 2-0. Less than three minutes later, Skillicorn set up Pla Hernandis for The Rock's third score of the game with less than 20 minutes to play in the second half.
 
UPJ ended Slippery Rock's hopes at a shutout, when Alexzander Toto landed a shot out of the reach of Aly on a penalty kick, cutting the deficit to 3-1 at 71:42.
 
Murphy extended the SRU lead back to three goals and scored the final goal of the game with the help of Spencer. The Slippery Rock defense held off any last minute UPJ attack limiting them to just one shot over the final 30 minutes, en route to an SRU 4-1 victory.
 
For the game, The Rock held advantages over Pitt-Johnstown in total shots (14-6), shots on goal (9-5) and corners (3-0).
 
Slippery Rock continues conference competition with a road test against California (Pa.) 6 p.m. Sept. 21.








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