ERIE, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team fought until the very end Saturday night at nationally ranked Mercyhurst University, but fell, 3-1, after a fierce opening 60 minutes.
 
The loss puts Slippery Rock's record at 2-4-4 overall, now 1-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. The Lakers move to an impressive 9-1 overall, 2-1 in the PSAC West.
 
Slippery Rock's lone goal was scored by Gabin Lonjard, coming on an assist from Shaun Spencer. Lonjard, last week's PSAC West Co-Athlete of the Week, now has two goals in his career as a freshman.
 
Aitor Jorde was the only player for The Rock with more than one shot, placing one of his two on target.
 
Goalkeeper Adam Davies made some unfathomable plays Saturday night, including an improbable double rebound save that required him to dive to both ends of the net in a matter of seconds. Davies tallied four saves on the night after facing a career-high 16 shots.
 
After an even first 30 minutes, Mercyhurst's Dylan Sumner earned his eighth goal of the season with an unlucky deflection on a cross, ricocheting off Sumner's foot and skipping off the goalpost past Davies. That would be the only goal Mercyhurst would score in the first half.
 
Slippery Rock came out of the halftime break ready to put the Lakers on upset alert, scoring in the 50^th minute. Spencer took a corner kick that he swung in toward the near post, where Lonjard awaited with a one-timer opportunity to level the score at 1-1.
 
Things were looking up for The Rock, as they clicked off a pair of shots to follow, but Sumner added his second goal of the night in the 67^th minute, tilting the lead back in Mercyhurst's favor, 2-1.
 
SRU was unable to produce another shot in the match, capsized by the Lakers' attack. Mercyhurst went on to add half a dozen shots in the final 22 minutes.
 
The Lakers added an insurance goal in the 85^th minute with a shot from freshman Cade Wurstner, the first goal of his career.  
 
Despite their strong showing in the opening two-thirds of the contest, The Rock were outmatched in shots (16-6), shots on goal (7-3) and corner kicks (6-4).
 
SRU will be back in action with another nationally ranked test 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at James Egli Field, as The Rock host No. 13 Gannon University. Slippery Rock was swept by the Golden Knights last year in a pair of shutout losses.



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