CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team rallied late but fell in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division opener, 2-1, Wednesday at California (Pa.).
Slippery Rock's record falls to 1-3-3 overall, starting PSAC West play at 0-1-0. Cal, claiming its second straight win, improves to 3-4-1, kicking off conference play at 1-0-0.
The Rock's lone goal was scored by true freshman
Gabin Lonjard, checking the box for his first career goal. It was assisted by
Shaun Spencer who claimed his first point of the season.
Arturo Pla Hernandis gave The Rock three of their seven shots, two of which were placed on target.
Luke Gildea had two total shots, one fired on net, while true freshman
Nate Stalter chipped in with his first career shot.
The first half knotted at 0-0, but Slippery Rock found a slim advantage by preventing Cal from taking a single shot on net. Overall, shots were 3-3, with The Rock placing a pair on net.
It only took the Vulcans 1:52 into the second half to not just take their first shot on target, but to convert, nabbing a 1-0 lead with a direct free kick goal by Jacob Gretz.
After an SRU corner kick was intercepted, Cal took advantage with a counterattack, quickly extending the lead to 2-0 on a goal from Andriy Bilous.
The Rock would be able to create two shots in the next 20 minutes, finally breaking through in the 79
th minute when a foul created a free kick opportunity. Spencer's set piece drifted into the box and was headed into the net by Lonjard, cutting the lead in half to 2-1.
Slippery Rock only saw one more shot in the 85
th minute, though, going high of the mark and halting a comeback.
Overall shots were 7-7, with Slippery Rock controlling a narrow 4-3 edge in shots on goal. The Rock also led in corners, 6-2.
Slippery Rock will be back in action 1 p.m. Saturday at James Egli Field, as The Rock host the Mountain Cats of Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock went 1-0-1 against UPJ a year ago.
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