GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2023-24. 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, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will play Seton Hill University 1 p.m. Saturday at James Egli Field in the second of its three straight home matches.
Following back-to-back losses to No. 20 Mercyhurst University and No. 10 Gannon University, Slippery Rock enters with an overall record of 2-5-4 and 1-3 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play. The Griffins come in 3-8 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC West.
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Saturday'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 TV, 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.
GAME 12 of 17
Opponent: Seton Hill
Date: Saturday — 1 p.m.
Venue: James Egli Field
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Live Video: Rock Athletics Digital Network
Live Stats: Slippery Rock Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
SERIES HISTORY vs. SETON HILL
Saturday will mark the 18
th all-time meeting between The Rock and the Griffins, a series that began in 2008. Slippery Rock won the first five contests, but since then, Seton Hill has taken 10 of the last 12 matches. The Griffins enter Saturday on a four-game winning streak, with SRU most recently having won in 2019. Through the last four matches, The Rock have been outscored, 9-3.
While at home, Slippery Rock is 4-5 versus Seton Hill. However, The Rock have won just one of their last three games against the Griffins while at home.
LAST MEETING
Slippery Rock traveled to Seton Hill Oct. 26, 2022, suffering its second 3-1 loss to the Griffins of the year. Seton Hill went into halftime with a 1-0 lead from a 15
th minute goal, only to double it just 6:41 into the second half. The Griffins would tack on one more in the 61
st minute before The Rock chipped back with an 81
st minute goal from
Noel Williamson.
The match ended 10 on 10 after both teams received a second half red card. The Griffins held advantages in total shots (19-17) and shots on goal (11-8) while SRU led in corners (6-5).
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 2-5-4
PSAC West Record: 1-3-0
PSAC West Standings: T-4
th
Home Record: 2-2-1
Away Record: 0-3-3
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Streak: L2
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Sixth season at SRU (27-45-12)
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock hosted No. 10 Gannon Wednesday, suffering a 7-1 loss, the first time allowing more than five goals in a single game since a 10-0 loss to the University of the District of Columbia in 2003. Gannon got ahead to a 2-0 lead with two goals, both in the 27
th minute, followed by a third goal in the 42
nd minute.
Arturo Pla Hernandis cut the lead to 3-1 heading into the halftime break in the 43
rd minute.
Gannon would add a quartet of goals in the 50
th, 67
th, 69
th and 72
nd minutes to give the nationally renowned Golden Knights their largest win of the season. Despite the scoreline, Slippery Rock was only outshot, 14-12. Additionally, SRU held an edge in corner kicks, 10-5.
AIDING THE OFFENSE
Pla Hernandis continues to improve on his numbers, now at 14 points from seven goals.
Aitor Jorde is second on the team in points with six, all coming from three goals.
Gabin Lonjard and
Aashi Pandher have both registered five points from two goals and one assist.
Ignacio Rullan has four points from his one goal against Pitt-Johnstown and his two assists against Daemen University.
Luke Gildea and
Shaun Spencer both carry two points on two assists, while
Chris Mitchell,
Max Murphy,
Joe Skillicorn and
Jeroen Van Der Veen have one point from one assist
PUTTING THEM ON NET
Pla Hernandis also leads the team in both shots and shots on goal, with 17 of his 32 attempts being placed on target. Jorde is the only other player to hit double-digits in shots on goal, firing 10 of his 23 shots on net.
Gildea, Pandher and Rullan all have at least 10 shots, combining for 29 percent of the team's offensive output (35-of-120).
THE ARTURO IMPACT
Pla Hernandis added his seventh goal of the year against No. 10 Gannon, just one away from the eight goals that he finished the 2022 season with. He currently ranks third in the PSAC in goals per game at .636. Pla Hernandis is also third in the conference in shots, with 2.91 per game. His 1.55 shots on goal rank second in the PSAC behind Mercyhurst's Dylan Sumner (2.55).
Now with 19 career goals, Pla Hernandis is two goals away from moving into the top 20 all-time goal scorers at Slippery Rock. Having taken 111 total shots, Pla Hernandis is five shots away from moving into the top 10 all-time in shots attempted as well.
A BIG GAME FOR JEROEN
Van Der Veen, a sophomore transfer from NAIA Oklahoma State Panhandle University, recorded his first assist with Slippery Rock against Gannon, as well as his first shot on goal. Van Der Veen sent in a long pass up through the middle of the pitch to Pla Hernandis for The Rock's lone goal in the 43
rd minute.
A PLETHORA OF CORNERS
Slippery Rock tied a season-high 10 corner kicks taken against Gannon, bringing its season total to 69. The Rock's per game average improved to 6.27, which ranks second in the PSAC West behind Gannon's 6.33.
SRU is now 21
st in Division II in corner kicks per game and 26
th in total corner kicks taken.
.500 AT HOME
The Rock hold a 2-2-1 record at home, a five-game series highlighted by wins over Daemen and Pitt-Johnstown. A year ago, Slippery Rock finished the year at 4-4-1 at home. The Rock last finished the year with a winning record at home in 2019, going 5-2-1.
Saturday marks the second of three games in the only three-game homestand of the year for Slippery Rock. A season ago, Slippery Rock went 2-0-1 in its lone three-game stretch at home, with wins over UDC and UPJ.
SRU'S BACK LINE
The Rock's defensive unit allowed just five corner kicks against No. 10 Gannon, now having allowed an average of just 4.5 corners in their last six games. The defense has been led heavily by Lonjard, who has played the full 90 in nine of 11 matches this year. Key defensive supporters have been found in the likes of Van Der Veen and
Will Harrigan as well.
MINDING THE NET
Adam Davies made three saves and faced 12 shots in Wednesday's loss to Gannon before being relieved by senior
Duncan McCoy, who took on two shots in his first appearance in net since 2021. Davies enters Saturday's matchup with the Griffins with 43 saves on the year. He has a .642 save percentage and a 2.23 GAA.
WHERE THEY STAND
Albeit still relatively early in the conference schedule, Saturday's match could prove crucial to Slippery Rock down the stretch, as The Rock enter tied for fourth in the PSAC West with three points on one win. Just ahead of them with six points from two wins is Seton Hill, tentatively holding onto the final postseason spot.
A win for Slippery Rock on Saturday would level the two sides each to 2-3 in PSAC West play.
The top three teams in both the PSAC West and PSAC East standings at the end of the season qualify for the conference tournament.
ACTIVE SRU ROSTER vs. SETON HILL
Arturo Pla Hernandis — 2 points (1 goal, 0 assists)
Topher Garcia — 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist)
THE GRIFFINS BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 3-8-0 (.273)
PSAC West Record: 2-2-0
PSAC West Standings: 3
rd
Home Record: 1-3-0
Away Record: 2-5-0
Last Five Games: 3-2-0
Streak: W1
Head Coach: Dilveer Chaggar | Second season at Seton Hil (11-17-2, .400)
SETON HILL SCOUTING REPORT
The Griffins come into James Egli Field Saturday rebounding from two straight shutout losses to Mercyhurst and Gannon with a 4-1 victory over California (Pa.) earlier this week. Coupled with a 4-1 win at UPJ, the Griffins look to move above .500 in PSAC West competition.
The Griffins started their season 0-6, a stretch that included losses to UDC and Roberts Wesleyan University, two teams that Slippery Rock tied with earlier in the year.
Seton Hill's offense has been led by Brice Gandhi, a graduate student from Rwanda who has 12 points on five goals and two assists. The Griffins have also found support from true freshman James Aubrey, who has nine points on three goals and three assists. Aubrey is coming off his first two-assist game against Cal.
Julian Marker has been a stroke of consistency for the Griffins, recording six points on two goals and two assists. Marker has put up shots in all but two matches this year.
Aidan Hollander has started 10 of 11 matches for Seton Hill in net, making 56 saves on 157 shots faced.
As a team, Seton Hill have been outshot, 16.2-10.2, per game. The Griffins take the second fewest corner kicks in the PSAC at just 3.4 per game. Seton Hill's 13.45 fouls per game rank second in the PSAC.
Head coach Dilveer Chaggar leads the Griffins for his second season, guiding a roster that includes global representation from 10 countries: Australia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Norway, Rwanda, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.
LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will wrap up its three-match homestand 1 p.m. Oct. 18 against California (Pa.) and James Egli Field. The Rock fell on the road to the Vulcans, 2-1, earlier this year.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
