SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team secured its first shutout victory of the year when it defeated California (Pa.), 3-0, Wednesday at James Egli Field.
 
The win also marked SRU's first back-to-back wins of the year, improving to a 4-5-4 overall record, leveling at 3-3 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition. Cal suffered its sixth consecutive loss, falling to 3-10-1 overall and 1-5 in PSAC West play.
 
The Rock utilized three different scorers, with Luke Gildea, Aitor Jorde and Arturo Pla Hernandis all recording goals. Jorde tallied four points for the second straight game, earning a pair of assists in addition to his game-winning goal.
 
Gildea and Jorde both took a team-high four shots, with Gildea placing all four of his total shots on target. Ignacio Rullan chipped in with three shots in the strong offensive showing.
 
Adam Davies claimed his second career shutout, making one save on eight shots faced.
 
After kickstarting the game with a pair of corner kicks, Slippery Rock buried its first shot of the game in the back of the net on a soaring header from Jorde, catching Cal keeper AJ Visco off guard.
 
In the 18^th minute, Jorde again threatened a goalscoring opportunity taking a shot on net. Visco's save bounced off his chest, though, directly into the wheelhouse of Gildea, who finished off the play for his first goal of the season.
 
Opportunities through the remainder of the opening period were few and far between, as The Rock rode a 2-0 lead into halftime, leading in shots, 8-4.
 
Slippery Rock wasted no time in the second half increasing the lead to 3-0, as Pla Hernandis found a through ball from Jorde in the 51^st minute, able to sneak it past the keeper.
 
California would take its lone shot on goal in the 72^nd minute, but would not take another shot until the 90^th minute. Ultimately, Slippery Rock's defensive efforts throughout the day persistently kept the Vulcans off the board.
 
In total, Slippery Rock led in shots (17-8) and shots on goal (11-1). Both teams took five corner kicks in the contest.
 
SRU's last program shutout came nearly a year to date: Oct. 19, 2022, in a 5-0 home win, also against Cal.
 
The Rock will be back in action 12 p.m. Saturday at Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock defeated the Mountain Cats, 3-2, earlier this year at home.



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