SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team looks to extend its unbeaten streak to four games in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division road match against California (Pa.) 6 p.m. Wednesday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video and in-game statistics will be provided by the California Sports Information department at the links below.
 
GAME 7 DETAILS
Opponent: California (Pa.)
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 21 – 6 p.m.
Location: Phillipsburg Soccer Facility – California, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: Tied 22-22-3
Last Played: Oct. 27, 2021 (Cal won 2-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY vs CALIFORNIA
Slippery Rock and the Vulcans have an even 22-22-3 mark in the all-time series dating back to 1984. SRU has only lost one contest to California in its last 11 meetings. In those 11 contests, The Rock has only surrendered five total goals.
 
LAST MEETING
SRU suffered a 2-0 loss to Cal on the road Oct. 27, 2021. The Rock was led offensively by Arturo Pla Hernandis with three total shots, two being on target. Slippery Rock goalkeeper Derek Hoffman finished the match with one save over the 90 minutes.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 3-2-1
PSAC West Record: 1-0
PSAC West Standings: Tied for first
Home Record: 3-0-1
Away Record: 0-2
Last Five Games: 3-1-1
Streak: W2
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Fifth season at SRU (23-32-7)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock earned a 4-1 victory over Pitt-Johnstown in its conference opener Sept. 17 at James Egli Field. The Rock's scoring was produced by Pla Hernandis, Joe Skillicorn, Shaun Spencer and Max Murphy each with a goal. Skilliorn, Spencer and Nathan Kortyna provided one assist apiece.
 
Goalkeeper Hossam Aly made four saves while allowing just one goal over 90 minutes of action.
 
CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Last Saturday's win was the fourth consecutive season in which Slippery Rock opened PSAC competition with a victory. More impressively, it is the eighth straight season without a loss in its conference opener.
 
A win against the Vulcans would be the fifth season since 1993 that The Rock claimed a 2-0 record to open conference play and its first time doing so since 2015.
 
UNBEATEN STREAK
The Rock extended their winning-streak to two games and their unbeaten streak to three following a 4-1 victory over Pitt-Johnstown. SRU has now matched its longest undefeated streak since 2019 and a win or tie against the Vulcans would mark its longest since the 2015 season.
 
SCORING SURGE
The Rock's four goals against UPJ was their highest score output of the 2022 season. SRU tallied all four of its goals in the second half of the contest which the first time doing so since the 2021 season when it placed five second half goals on Pitt-Johnstown Oct. 13.
 
OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Pacing the Slippery Rock offense is Pla Hernandis, who is tied for first in the PSAC in game-winning goals (2), tied for sixth in goals (4) and tied for seventh in points (8).
 
Following is Ramses Minaya who leads SRU in assists with two in addition to having one goal on the year. Skillicorn, Spencer and Alex Plimmer each have three points this season by way of one goal and one assist.
 
Rounding out the attack is Murphy with one goal and Kortyna with an assist.
 
ROCK SOLID DEFENSE
As a team, the SRU backline has limited its competitors to just three goals through the first half of contests this season.
 
Leading the defense is Aly, who is first in the PSAC in saves (34) and saves per game (5.67) while ranking sixth in save percentage (.773) and ninth in goals against average (1.67).
 
PROGRAM HISTORY UPDATES
Following the California game, SRU closes the week at home Saturday against Gannon. A 2-0 week for Slippery Rock would tie head coach Kevin Wilhelm with Andy Hoggarth for eighth all-time in wins by an SRU men's soccer coach with 25.
 
Hillman continues to make his way up the list of consecutive starts by an SRU men's soccer player. Two additional starts this week would tie him for eighth with Matt Hunsberger (2016-19) at 32.
 
PREVIOUSLY vs CALIFORNIA
Minaya – 4 games: 1 assist
Pla Hernandis – 2 games: 1 goal, 1 assist
Plimmer – 2 games: 1 goal
Aly – 1 game (1-0): 3 saves, 1 goal allowed
Hoffman – 1 game (0-1): 1 save, 2 goals allowed
 
NEXT FIVE GAMES
Sept. 24 – 12 p.m. vs Gannon
Sept. 30 – 6 p.m. at Mercyhurst
Oct. 4 – 4 p.m. vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Oct. 8 – 12 p.m. vs. Seton Hill
Oct. 12 – 6 p.m. at Gannon
 
CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 1-3-1
PSAC West Record: 0-1
PSAC West Standings: Tied for fifth
Home Record: 0-3-0
Away Record: 1-0-1
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Emedin Sabic | Ninth season at Cal (47-76-15)
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Last time out: California suffered a 5-0 loss to No. 12 Mercyhurst in its conference opener at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility Sept. 17.
 
Leading the way for the Cal offense is Brady Olsen who leads the team with three points on one goal and one assist. Following is the duo of Josh Panaro and Zach Vanek who have each tallied one goal this season.
 
Vulcan goalkeepers Payton Smith and AJ Visco have split time this year making appearances in five and four games respectively. Smith carries a 2.75 GAA, .609 save percentage and 14 saves in the Wednesday's contest while Visco has a 1.16 GAA, .600 save percentage and three saves.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns home for a PSAC West test against Gannon University 12 p.m. Saturday at James Egli Field.







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