GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2024-25. 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 vs. #15 Gannon
The Rock (2-2-1)	Golden Knights (4-2-1, 0-0-1)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Kevin Wilhelm	Coach Billy Colton
Program Records	Program Records
James Egli Field
PSAC Standings
PSAC Statistics
PSAC Schedule

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team will kick off Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play by hosting the No. 15 Golden Knights of Gannon University 1 p.m. Wednesday at James Egli Field.
 
The Rock are looking for their first home win of the year, coming in with a 2-2-1 overall record. Gannon, which has been ranked nationally as high as No. 7 this year, enters with a 4-2-1 mark on the year that includes an 0-0-1 start in PSAC West play.
 
NO PETS AT EGLI FIELD
Fans are reminded that there are NO PETS allowed at James Egli Field or in any SRU Athletics facilities. Please do not bring dogs or any other pets to the game. Unless they are a registered service animal, you will be asked to remove your pet from the facility.
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Wednesday'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 6 of 16
Opponent: Gannon
Date: Wednesday – 1 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: James Egli Field
Live Video: Rock Athletics Digital Network
Live Stats: Slippery Rock Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads, 23-22-2
Current Streak: L9
Last Played: Oct. 25, 2023 (Gannon won, 4-1)
 
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. GANNON
Arturo Pla Hernandis – 2 points: 1 goal, 9 shots, 3 SOG (6 GP)
Aitor Jorde – 2 points: 1 goal, 7 shots, 4 SOG (2 GP)
Jeroen Van Der Veen – 1 point: 1 assist, 4 shots, 1 SOG (2 GP)
Adam Davies – (0-2), 5.63 GAA, 5 saves on 33 SF
 
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday will mark the 48^th all-time meeting between The Rock and the Golden Knights. Despite Slippery Rock holding a 23-22-2 record in the series, Gannon has won the last nine matchups and has gone 10-0-1 against The Rock since 2016.
 
Prior to Gannon's run through the last eight years, Slippery Rock put together a six-game winning streak of its own. Most recently, SRU defeated Gannon in a 1-0 overtime decision in 2015.
 
The Rock's last home win against Gannon came via a 4-3 thriller in 2014 at James Egli Field. SRU overcame a 3-1 deficit through the first 37 minutes, scoring three unanswered goals (45', 48', 50') to spring ahead to a 4-3 victory.
 
SRU fell in a 7-1 defeat to No. 10 Gannon when the Golden Knights visited James Egli Field Oct. 11, 2023. Arturo Pla Hernandis gave SRU its one goal on an assist from Jeroen Van Der Veen. The Golden Knights held a 14-12 lead in shots and a 10-6 edge in shots on goal, while SRU took 10 of the game's 15 corners.
 

TEAM COMPARISON
The Rock	Stats	#15 Gannon
2-2-1	Overall Record	4-2-1
-	PSAC West Record	0-0-1
1.4	Goals per Game	3.0
1.4	Opp. Goals per Game	1.1
0	Season Goal Differential	+13
12.6	Shots per Game	18.1
10.0	Opp. Shots per Game	7.7
5.6	SOG per Game	9.1
5.2	Opp. SOG per Game	2.7
0.6	Assists per Game	3.1
5.2	Corners per Game	8.7
11.6	Fouls per Game	12.8
3.8	Saves per Game	1.7

 
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 2-2-1
2023 PSAC West Record: 4-6
Home Record: 0-1-1
Away Record: 2-1
2023 PSAC West Rank: 4^th of 6
Streak: L1
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm | Seventh season at SRU (32-50-13)
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock dropped a 4-0 non-conference battle to Roberts Wesleyan University Sept. 25 on the turf of Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The Redhawks tallied two goals in each half, led by a hat trick by Myles Palmer (6', 60', 65').
 
Roberts came out of the contest with noteworthy leads in shots (15-4) and shots on goal (11-0). SRU won five of the game's eight corner kick opportunities. Aaron Finney, Luke Gildea, Aitor Jorde and Ignacio Rullan each took one shot, as Adam Davies made seven saves in net.
 
LEADING THE ROCK
Colton Swanson carries a team-high six points on two goals and two assists, followed by Finney, whose two goals at Shippensburg University rank him second on the team with four points.
 
Gildea, Jorde and Pla Hernandis all have one goal this season for two points. Jack Smith, who has earned one assist, rounds out the half dozen players with points on the year.
 
Swanson has also placed 10 of his 15 shots on target, a team-high in both categories. Jorde ranks second in both stats with four of his nine shots landing on target, while Pla Hernandis has seen two of his nine shots go to goal.
 
Rasmus Fugl has been consistent in SRU's offensive third this year with two of his eight shots landing on frame. Gildea is fifth on the team in shots with six total attempts. Finney, Rullan and Aashi Pandher have all recorded four shots, while Smith, Van Der Veen, Gabin Lonjard and Shaun Spencer each have one shot to their name.
 
OPENING LEAGUE ACTION
Slippery Rock saw its eight-year unbeaten streak in conference openers end last year with a 2-1 loss at California (Pa.). The Rock have won seven of their last 10 conference openers, going 7-0-1 between 2014-22.
 
Slippery Rock enters Wednesday unbeaten in five of its last six PSAC home openers, looking for its fourth straight win of the like.
 
SRU conference home openers:
2023: W, 3-2 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (Sept. 30)
2022: W, 4-1 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (Sept. 17)
2021: W, 3-1 vs. California (Sept. 29)
2019: L, 2-1 vs. Pitt-Johnstown (Oct. 16)
2018: W, 3-1 vs. Lock Haven (Sept. 21)
2017: D, 0-0 vs. Gannon (Sept. 24)
 
FROM THE FLAGS
Slippery Rock has held advantages in corner kicks in each of its last four games, amassing a 19-12 difference in that span. On the year, SRU holds a 26-22 lead in corners over its opponents.
 
As a team, Slippery Rock ranks seventh in the PSAC with 5.2 corner kicks per game.
 
ON TARGET
Slippery Rock also ranks sixth in the PSAC with 5.6 shots on goal per game. Through the first five games of the season, SRU has outshot its opponents 63-50, with a 28-26 difference in shots on goal.
 
The Rock have outshot their opponents in three of their first five games, including their only other home game against the University of the District of Columbia. SRU came away with leads in shots (16-14), shots on goal (7-6) and corner kicks (6-4) against the Firebirds Sept. 18 at James Egli Field.
 
ASSETS UP FRONT
Finney, who scored the first two goals of his career against Shippensburg two games ago, now ranks 15^th in the conference with 0.4 goals per game.
 
Ranking behind him with one goal are Gildea, Jorde and Pla Hernandis – a trio that made up the top three in points last year for Slippery Rock.
 
Jorde led The Rock with 22 points on 10 goals and two assists, while Pla Hernandis topped his team-high eight goals from 2022 with 19 points on nine goals and one assist. Gildea was a consistent offensive weapon throughout the year per usual in his career, totaling eight points on two goals and a team-leading four assists.
 
DAVIES GETTING IT DONE
Davies comes into Wednesday's fixture with a 1.40 GAA and a .731 save percentage, fresh off a career-high seven-save performance versus Roberts Wesleyan.
 
The senior goalkeeper ranks third in the PSAC with 3.8 saves per game, tops in the PSAC West:
 
Saves per game (PSAC West)
1. Adam Davies (3.8, Slippery Rock)
2. PJ Derksen (3.0, Pitt-Johnstown)
3. Kiernan Webb (2.8, California)
 
HELP FROM THE DEFENSE
Slippery Rock's defensive core, led by Lonjard and Colton Spence, has limited opponents to 10.0 shots, 5.2 shots on goal and 4.4 corner kicks per game this season.
 
The Rock have benefitted from a versatile defense, seeing various appearances from midfielders in Rullan and Ryan Hanes, as well as utilizing Van Der Veen in a midfield winger role in recent matches.
 
Spencer also started his first game of the season against Roberts, putting together a solid 55-minute shift defensively.
 
THE GRASS IS GREENER
Slippery Rock will be playing its second game on grass this year, 0-0-1 after tying UDC at Egli Field. Gannon will be playing its first game apart from artificial turf this year, just its second true away game in total.
 
SRU played all of its home games at James Egli Field a year ago, going 4-3-1 to finish .500 or better at home for the second straight year.
 
RECORD WATCH
Now in his senior year, Pla Hernandis has the opportunity to rise through the program's top 20 in multiple different statistical categories. With 62 shots on goal, he currently ranks fourth in school history, just two shots on target behind Toby Bowser (2007-10) for third all-time.
 
A native of Beniparrell, Spain, Pla Hernandis has taken sole possession of sixth place all-time with 134 total shots. Seven more shots will put Pla Hernandis in a tie for fifth with Jack Jarvie (1955-58).
 
Pla Hernandis is tied for 17^th with 22 career goals. Two players are tied for 15^th with 23 goals while Matt Thompson guards 14^th all-time with 25 goals.
 
THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Record: 4-2-1
PSAC West Record: 0-0-1
Home Record: 2-2-1
Away Record: 1-0
2023 PSAC West Rank: 1^st of 6
Streak: D1
Last Five: 3-1-1
Head Coach: Billy Colton | Sixth season at Gannon (72-19-8, .768)
 
GANNON SCOUTING REPORT
The Golden Knights had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Seton Hill University to open PSAC West play, now 4-2-1 after being ranked seventh nationally in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
 
Gannon will be playing just its second true away game after defeating Ashland University, 4-0, on the road and beating Post University at a neutral venue in another 4-0 win.
 
The Golden Knights, which made it all the way to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals a year ago, retain much of their talent and rank fourth nationally in scoring offense at 3.0 goals per game. GU also stacks up third in Division II with 8.7 corners per game, third with 18.1 shots per game and second with 9.1 shots on goal per game.
 
GU's depth is illustrated by having five players in the top 15 conference-wide in points per game. Per Kristian Lauvstad, a true freshman from Nesoya, Norway, leads both the Golden Knights and the PSAC with 12 points on five goals and two assists. He has placed 11 of his 15 shots on target through seven games.
 
CSU Bakersfield transfer Andre Moraes (3-2-1) has started six of the team's seven games in goal. The redshirt sophomore from Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil carries a 1.33 GAA and a save percentage of .467.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
SRU will return to the road to face PSAC West foe California 1 p.m. Saturday. The Rock and the Vulcans split their series a year ago, with each home team claiming a win.





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